Blackpool defender hit with new injury in latest blow since Stockport County move
Fraser Horsfall missed Blackpool’s meeting with Bradford City - and is now set for a spell on the sidelines.
Blackpool defender Fraser Horsfall is set to be out of action for at least the next eight weeks after suffering a hamstring injury.
The defender wasn’t involved in the Seasiders’ 2-1 defeat to Bradford City on Sunday, after featuring for the full 90 minutes against Port Vale on New Year’s Day.
Following the fixture at Vale Park, the 29-year-old flagged a problem - which will now result in another spell on the sidelines.
On the back of his summer move from Stockport County, Horsfall initially struggled with an ankle problem, which meant his first real extended run in the team only came after Ian Evatt’s appointment at the end of October.
Across the last few months, the centre back has grown in confidence in the middle of a defensive three, and had started to find his form in Tangerine, which makes his absence another even bigger blow.
Discussing the extent of Horsfall’s injury and its impact on the wider squad, Evatt said: “We’ve lost him for eight or nine weeks. He’s got a grade three hamstring tear from the match against Port Vale. It was a heavy pitch, playing with 10.
“It’s not just the game on Thursday (against Port Vale) that hurts you, it’s the tiredness in the legs. Fraser getting injured and Hubby’s (James Husband) suspension not being rescinded, it’s really frustrating, and everyone feels the same as me.
“There’s a huge sense of anger, but we need to deal with the cards we’ve been dealt with. We had one fit centre back today (against Bradford). There were no changes we could make off the bench, other than to bring on some fresh legs.
“I don’t think the squad is where we need it to be, we need players and need to recruit. We need help and support. We know what we need, and we’ve got the funds, but we need to make sure we recruit people who can help us, but we need to do it quickly.”
Looking to the transfer window
Evatt admits the injury to Horsfall will have an influence on what Blackpool will now prioritise in the transfer window.
“It has to,” he added.
“We need players in most areas, but in the centre back position and at centre forward, we need some help.
“We need another midfield player, we need more support in the spine of the team. Maybe we can look at other areas at the back end of the window, but our priority for now is that spine.”
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