Blackpool duo back available for selection for FA Cup tie against West Brom as loan keeper returns to Reading

The duo tested positive for Covid-19 before Christmas and isolated for a period of 10 days, missing the games against Shrewsbury Town and Bristol Rovers as a result.

However, Maxwell and Virtue returned to training this week and will now be eligible to make their returns against the Baggies.

With Maxwell back involved, that has seen emergency loan goalkeeper Sam Walker return to his parent club Reading.

“Maxi and Matty have both trained this week, so they will be available for selection,” Pool boss Neil Critchley confirmed.

“With Maxi now back, that means Sam has gone back to Reading.

“We’re very thankful for his contribution, I thought he was excellent in both of the games he played for us.

“He’s a really good guy, a good professional, so he’s gone back and Maxi is now back fit.

“He’s been fantastic for us this season. He’s our captain and he’ll be ready to go and play on Saturday.”

Critchley also confirmed that Luke Garbutt and CJ Hamilton will miss out on Saturday through injury.

“CJ Hamilton won’t be fit and Luke Garbutt won’t be fit either, because he picked up a slight abductor strain at Bristol Rovers last week," Critchley said.

“It’s not serious, it won’t keep him out for hopefully beyond this weekend, but he won’t be fit for the game on Saturday.”

Blackpool's players underwent mandatory Covid testing on Wednesday, with results expected back any time soon.

“We’re expecting those results any minute now - even as I’m speaking," Critchley said during this afternoon's press conference.

"I’m sure in the next hour or two we’ll find out who we have or may not have for the game at the weekend and possibly beyond.

“It’s disruptive and it’s a challenge, but I also have to keep reminding myself and the players and staff that we’re extremely fortunate as well.

“We can still do our job, we still come to work every day, we still see each other although it’s in different circumstances. We can still get out in the fresh air and train, so there’s plenty of other people who are less fortunate than us in the country at this moment in time who can’t go to work, who can’t leave their house and obviously there’s a lot of people that have been infected and are in hospital.

“It’s disruptive but it is what it is, so we get on with it.”

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