What Blackpool's returning injured figures can offer amid torrid league run following cameo for Crystal Palace loanee and others

A number of key Blackpool players are returning from injury at the right time for the club.

The Seasiders have been without several influential figures at various times this season - which has been one of the mitigating factors behind their difficulties on the pitch.

With Ian Evatt’s side currently sat in League One’s bottom four, an increase in depth comes at the perfect time ahead of the Christmas period.

In Sunday’s 4-1 victory over Carlisle United in the FA Cup, Danny Imray and Josh Bowler were both able to feature off the bench, while Albie Morgan was also among the substitutes.

Elsewhere, Dale Taylor has returned to training this week ahead of Blackpool’s midweek trip to the New York Stadium to take on Rotherham United.

Here’s a look at what we can expect from the returning figures:

Danny Imray

Danny Imray could actually be the figure that makes Ian Evatt’s wing-back system truly click.

The attributes of the Crystal Palace man suits the formation perfectly, as he’s someone that loves to bomb up and down the pitch.

We should get to see even more of his attacking qualities in a more advanced position, with a bit more cover behind him than his previous outings in Steve Bruce’s back four.

So far it’s not really worked out for anyone on the right side. Andy Lyons is probably a bit too defensive for the role, while both CJ Hamilton and Scott Banks are more natural wingers.

Not to put too much pressure on Imray, but he’s the one that has a big influence on making the current transition to a new style of play much smoother.

Albie Morgan

A fully fit Albie Morgan walks easily into Blackpool’s strongest team. Last season we saw the best of the ex-Charlton Athletic man, and he could certainly run the show for the Seasiders once again.

In the last few weeks, Evatt’s side have lacked a spark from the centre of the park, so having someone who could provide that back in the XI would be a massive boost.

You’d probably say the best midfield trio on paper would be Jordan Brown, George Honeyman and Morgan, so hopefully in reality that would also be the case.

Josh Bowler

The full impact of Josh Bowler’s return will very much depend on which version of the 26-year-old we see.

It was a tough start to life back on the Fylde Coast for the fan’s favourite, with things certainly not clicking for him on the wing under Bruce.

Due to the ex-Nottingham Forest man’s strengths not really suiting a wing-back role, Evatt tried him as the more attacking option in the three, and it did bring an improvement.

At the time of his injury, Bowler had just started to make some progress and looked as if he could be a key figure in Tangerine once again, but the influence he has when he’s fully fit again will be dictated by if he can pick up from where he left off.

Dale Taylor

What Dale Taylor could bring is probably slightly more uncertain than the others.

First of all, Blackpool are screaming out for more options up front, so he’ll be welcomed back with open arms in that regard.

For Taylor as an individual, the Seasiders haven’t seen what he can do. He’s only young, and has done well in League One in recent seasons, so there’s a player there, but that’s not been on display at Bloomfield Road yet.

He was a victim of the team’s poor form in the early part of the season, with little service coming his way.

The forward was unable to really carve open chances by himself under Bruce, and just couldn’t really make the most of the scraps that came his way.

That could be different when Evatt’s plans fully kick in, but Ashley Fletcher and Tom Bloxham have had to do a lot of running back to receive the ball in the past month, so that challenge is still going to be there for Taylor to overcome.

Niall Ennis

Niall Ennis is still a few weeks behind the others, but is probably the most-important player on the list.

As a striker, Blackpool know exactly what they are getting with the ex-Stoke City man. He’s someone that will happily feed off scraps to come alive in the box.

If the Seasiders can keep Ennis fit then he’s someone that can reach double figures in the second half of the season, and those goals will be exactly what the club needs to ensure they’re not in the bottom four for too long.

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