Blackpool injury news ahead of the Easter period

Blackpool Gazette

Neil Critchley has provided an injury update ahead of Blackpool’s Easter fixtures.   James Husband (thigh) and Albie Morgan (knee) are both making progress but remain doubtful for this weekend.   It’ll be “touch and go” whether Jordan Rhodes features again this season due to the knee ligaments issues he sustained against Wigan prior to the international break.   Meanwhile, Andy Lyons has undergone surgery for an ACL injury, which will keep him out long-term.  Photo credit: CameraSport

Transcript

00:00 After what Jordan has delivered this season and how good he's been, what's the thought

00:11 of that he might not play in Tangerine again if things don't go to plan? How disappointing

00:14 is that?

00:15 I'm still hopeful, so I've not really thought about that, to be honest with you. Jordan's

00:20 been fantastic for us. We've loved having him here, not just for what he's contributed

00:26 on the pitch but also off the pitch. He's a really popular member of our dressing room

00:30 and I think he's really enjoyed being here as well. So I'm remaining positive. I still

00:37 picture him in a Tangerine shirt between now and the end of the season. Hopefully that's

00:43 proven right.

00:44 Is he out of contract with Huddersfield at the end of the year? Is he someone you'd be

00:48 interested in bringing back after how popular he's been during his time at Blingfield Road?

00:54 The way that Jordan's played and the contribution he's made here, you're always interested in

00:57 them types of players. But again, with those situations, Jordan's a free agent. I'm sure

01:06 his record and how he's played here, his name speaks for himself and his record speaks for

01:12 itself. So it's not like he's an unproven youngster who's under the radar. I'm sure

01:19 other people will be looking at him as well. But I can only speak for what I've seen from

01:26 him and worked with him and also what he's contributed to us in the way that he feels

01:35 about the place as well. But if that was an opportunity that we could pursue in the future

01:43 and that's something that Jordan would want to do, then I think that's something we would

01:47 look at.

01:48 Every time you get an interview with him, he speaks very highly of the place and you

01:52 can see how much he's enjoying himself.

01:55 He has. He's really enjoyed being here. I don't think in this season, in the previous

02:02 few seasons, he's not played or started as many games as he started here. And I think

02:07 he's really enjoyed just being back out on the pitch and being a focal point of the team,

02:11 being a really important member of the starting line-up. And I don't think he's felt that

02:17 for a few years and he's missed it. So in some ways, I think we've given a little bit

02:23 of a love of the game back to him. And I know he's appreciated that. And yeah, we've loved

02:31 having him in here as well. It's been a two-way thing.

02:35 On Albie Morgan and James Husband, so is next weekend a more realistic return date for those

02:39 two?

02:40 They're stepping forward all the time and they're progressing quickly. And if you ever

02:47 going to take a calculated risk, it would be at this stage of the season. There's no

02:52 point in waiting until right to the end and getting them 100% spot on. So that's something

03:01 we'll discuss. Both players are different with different injuries. And I know both players

03:06 will want to get back as soon as possible. So we're not ruling them out. They're making

03:10 big strides quickly and I know they'll want to put themselves forward as quickly as possible.

03:16 Andy Lyons showed a photo last night after his surgery. He looked happy, he looked positive.

03:21 So is that the sums up how he's sort of reacted in the last few weeks?

03:24 Yeah, Andy's a really positive person. He's a ball of energy, so positive. That's how

03:33 he plays the game, full of endeavour, on the front foot. That's what we like about him.

03:39 And his reaction after a serious injury has been outstanding. He's worked tirelessly in

03:45 the last month to put himself in the best position possibly going into the surgery.

03:51 You're always, you have that feeling of uncertainty when you're going into an operation, but we

03:59 believe it's been successful. That's the feedback we had. And Andy, I know with the mindset

04:05 and the mentality he's got, he'll do everything he can and more to make sure he's healthy,

04:12 strong, fit and back as quickly as possible. But we know he faces a long-term absence.

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