OPPOSITION VIEW

Blackpool handed injury boost for Bolton Wanderers clash

George Honeyman could return against Wanderers this weekend <i>(Image: PA)</i>
George Honeyman could return against Wanderers this weekend (Image: PA)
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Blackpool have been handed an injury boost for their trip to Wanderers this weekend with George Honeyman set to return.

The midfielder has been sidelined since the end of January but Ian Evatt expects to have him available for selection at the Toughsheet Stadium.

The Seasiders have had a tough spell with injuries. January signings Kamarl Grant and Michael Obafemi recently saw their campaigns cut short.

Joel Randall also picked up a hamstring injury following his loan switch from Bolton. The midfielder is nearing a return, although he isn’t eligible against his parent club this weekend.

James Husband is suspended following his red card at Plymouth last weekend, while Michael Ihiekwe’s minutes are being managed carefully.

“(Honeyman) will be back training on Thursday and will be available for Saturday,” Evatt told Blackpool Gazette.

“Joel Randall will be back as well but he can’t play because of the parent club thing. Michael will be back, it’s just about managing that toe. There’s no way he can do Saturday-Tuesday at the minute with the way the toe is.

“The squad is going to get better and bigger, and we need it to. Losing Michael Obafemi was a big loss and obviously Hubby’s suspension is a killer as well.

“We’re depleted but the lads have given us absolutely everything and that’s what this club demands.”

Blackpool secured an important win against Mansfield on Tuesday night thanks to Niall Ennis’ goal 10 minutes before the break.

The result saw the Seasiders climb to 17th in the table, bouncing back from a heavy defeat against Plymouth several days prior. They are three points above the relegation zone, although several of the sides around them have a game in hand.

“I thought it was a very good response,” Evatt added. “With the ball, we want to be a lot different to what we showed tonight.

“But from where we were on Saturday, to the response we have given tonight, really good from the players.

“A fantastic response to a lot of finger-pointing and a lot of questions. Some of them were genuine, we have to accept. Some of them were too harsh.

“But this group of players are together, I have always said that. We just had to remind them of what this club is and what it stands for.

“For all the entertainment and bright lights of this wonderful place, it is underpinned by a community that is together and hard working.

“We should demand that from ourselves and the players, and tonight they gave us absolutely everything. Without the ball, I thought we were fantastic.”

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