Blackpool head into the competitive season with a number of fitness concerns after missing players featured on the casualty list during Saturday’s final pre-season friendly against Port Vale at Bloomfield Road.
Who was missing and why it matters
The club reported several absentees across the pre-season programme who did not feature in the 1-0 defeat to the League Two visitors. Those absent included senior defenders Fraser Horsfall and Michael Ihiekwe, midfielders Albie Morgan and Leighton Clarkson, forward Tom Bloxham, plus captain George Honeyman and teenager Oluchi Nwankwo, the latter forced off with a knee problem in an earlier behind-closed-doors friendly against Blackburn Rovers.
The list of bodies missing from match action has been a recurring theme in pre-season. With the first round of the EFL Cup away to Grimsby Town next weekend, the availability of these players will be important to manager and staff as they finalise selection.
Coaching staff give cautious update
“Fraser (Horsfall) and Michael (Ihiekwe) are both on the grass. In terms of Grimsby, whether that comes too soon - I don’t know. It depends how they come through next week, time will tell on that... Oluchi (Nwankwo) has had his scan and we’re just waiting for the results there. Hopefully it’s nothing too serious.”
Assistant coach Stephen Crainey provided the update after the Port Vale friendly, noting progress for some players who are back on grass work and emphasising the week-by-week nature of their recovery.
- Fraser Horsfall – training on grass; availability for Grimsby uncertain.
- Michael Ihiekwe – training on grass; remains to be assessed.
- Dion Charles – minor boot precaution, expected to return to training soon.
- Albie Morgan, Leighton Clarkson, Tom Bloxham – currently absent but hoped to return to training this week.
- George Honeyman – slight knee knock; expected back in training this week.
- Oluchi Nwankwo – scanned, awaiting results.
Implications for squad selection
Last season Blackpool were hit by injuries at key moments and the club will be keen to avoid a repeat. The staff will assess fitness at the end of the week before finalising the travelling party for the cup fixture. Crainey underlined the cautious approach: players who have been injured are assessed day by day and their readiness for competitive action will only be determined after monitoring their response to training load.
| Player | Status (from club update) |
|---|---|
| Fraser Horsfall | On grass; doubtful for Grimsby |
| Michael Ihiekwe | On grass; doubtful for Grimsby |
| George Honeyman | Minor knee knock; expected to train |
| Oluchi Nwankwo | Scanned; awaiting results |
| Albie Morgan | Absent; hoped to return to training |
| Leighton Clarkson | Absent; hoped to return to training |
| Tom Bloxham | Absent; hoped to return to training |
Supporters will watch team news closely over the coming days as the club finalises plans for the trip to Grimsby. If several of those listed recover in time, it would strengthen manager Ian Evatt’s options for what is the club’s first competitive match of the season. Otherwise, expect a selection influenced by the current availability of fit players and the need to manage minutes carefully at the start of the campaign.
