Birmingham City loanee's absence explained with new update issued ahead of Blackpool's festive period
Blackpool’s final away outing of 2025 ended with a 2-0 victory over Wigan Athletic at the Brick Community Stadium.
Birmingham City loanee Emil Hansson has been absent for Blackpool’s last two outings.
The midfielder’s last outing for the Seasiders was in their 4-1 victory over Carlisle United in the second round of the FA Cup earlier this month.
During the first half of that game, the 27-year-old was on hand with an assist for Ashley Fletcher, before being taken off at the break due to a calf injury.
Hansson was deemed fit enough to be named on the bench for a 3-0 win away to Rotherham United a few days after the meeting with the Cumbrians, but has been left out of the matchday squad since.
Since making the temporary move to Bloomfield Road in the summer, the Blues man has been left searching for consistency, and despite signing as a winger, he has been used as the more attacking option in a midfield three since Ian Evatt’s appointment back in October.
Discussing the reasoning behind Hansson’s absence in Blackpool’s recent 2-0 victory over Wigan Athletic, the head coach said: “He was injured and he missed the last matchday squad with a calf issue. Today, when the squad gets competitive I’m trying to foresee what’s going to happen at the start of the game and foresee what the changes look like.
“I felt like we needed different options with different skillsets than Emil, but he's a big player for us.”
Ihiekwe latest
Michael Ihiekwe was also absent from Saturday’s trip to the Brick Community Stadium.
The defender has been battling a toe injury in recent weeks, and was forced off at half time in the Seasiders’ last home outing against Lincoln City.
“We’re just managing this issue, there’s a lot of variables,” Evatt stated.
“One day it seems to have settled and then the next day it inflames, so we’re in the lap of the gods.”
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