Former Middlesbrough man hands Blackpool boost ahead of Leyton Orient - as injury update provided on Birmingham City loanee

Ian Evatt has confirmed Hayden Coulson will be available for Blackpool’s League One contest against Leyton Orient this weekend.

Although the head coach has admitted the Seasiders are still waiting to learn the full extent of Bailey Peacock-Farrell’s injury suffered while on international duty.

Coulson missed the disappointing 1-0 defeat against Burton Albion last week after sustaining a hip problem against Cardiff City earlier in the month.

The issue forced the former Middlesbrough and Ipswich Town man off at half-time in their triumph against the Bluebirds at Bloomfield Road and was one of eight members of Evatt’s squad who were unavailable for the loss at the Pirelli Stadium.

But as Blackpool continue to suffer from injuries, there is a bit of respite, with the midfielder expected to return to the fray for the trip to Brisbane Road on Saturday.

Meanwhile, a decision is yet to be made on Peacock-Farrell who picked up a back injury for Northern Ireland last week.

The keeper sat out the Green and White Army’s 1-0 triumph over Luxembourg on Monday, with Evatt admitting the Seasiders are still waiting to learn the full extent of the Birmingham City loanee’s setback

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s contest against Leyton Orient, the head coach provided an injury update over his squad, with the latest over Coulson and Peacock-Farrell.

Ian Evatt provides Blackpool injury update

He said: ‘Yeah, Hayden is back training tomorrow (Thursday) so will be fine for Saturday.

‘Obviously, Bailey has got a bit of a back issue picked up with Northern Ireland so we’re waiting to see what he looks like when he comes back.

‘Hopefully that won’t be too bad and he’ll be available, we’re unsure at the moment.

‘Other than that, that’s it really. Albie is another week closer but still probably not ready to play.

‘We’re getting closer and the next few weeks it is going to get better but for now just some patience and we give the players that are available all the support we possibly can.’

What Blackpool can expect from Leyton Orient

Last Saturday’s defeat to Burton represented Blackpool’s first league defeat under Evatt following his appointment last month.

The Seasiders will be looking to respond against Leyton Orient this weekend, who sit 16th after a disappointing start to the campaign.

And the former Bolton boss has opened up on what he expects from Saturday’s opponents.

‘I think the Leyton Orient game will be very similar to the Cardiff game in terms of they want to try and dominate possession.

‘There’s lots of rotations in the middle of the pitch in particular, they’ll be lots of space for us to hopefully transition and counter but also they’ve got some dangerous players and if you give them time and space they can hurt you.

‘It’s a tough game, difficult game but we know what we’re going into.

‘We think it’ll be pretty similar to what the Cardiff game looked like, which was completely different to last Saturday. Hopefully we can come out with the same result.’

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