Blackpool's selection boost for Burton Albion encounter?

While the Seasiders welcomed back Luke Garbutt, Grant Ward and Bez Lubala into their 18-man squad for Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Ipswich Town, they were still without six players.

Daniel Gretarsson, Keshi Anderson and CJ Hamilton are all long-term injury concerns, but the likes of Dan Ballard and Ethan Robson could return sooner rather than later.

Ballard was a surprise absence at Portman Road at the weekend, having been named among the substitutes during last week’s 2-0 win against Northampton Town.

Explaining the defender’s absence, Critchley told The Gazette: “He just felt his hip a little bit after training on Thursday, it was a bit sore.

“He went for a scan but that was clear. That should settle down after a day or two, he should be fine and back in contention for Tuesday.

“We’re hoping Ethan Robson will be as well. He’s been back on the grass running and doing some ball work.

“If he has no setbacks then he’ll be involved possibly for Tuesday, but if not, then definitely for next weekend (against Peterborough United).”

Another player missing against Ipswich was Gary Madine, who is currently sidelined with a groin complaint: an issue the striker has been carrying for the past few weeks.

That led to his absence in the recent victory against the Cobblers.

When asked when the 30-year-old will return, Critchley said: “We’re not sure yet. He’s had a few injections in his groin the other day, which we need to settle down.

“He’s had a few days’ rest after that and then we’ll assess him again on Monday, but hopefully it won’t be too long.”

Blackpool will be looking to get back to winning ways against Burton on Tuesday after failing to win for the third straight game at Portman Road.

Critchley’s side slumped to their 10th defeat of the campaign at a venue where the club has never returned with three points in its history.

“The timings of their goals changed the game,” Critchley said.

“In the first half, up until they scored, I thought we were really well organised, pressed well and won the ball back in good positions on the pitch, but we never made enough of those opportunities.

“On one of those situations when we did win the ball back and had a chance to break, Sullay Kaikai’s pass just gets intercepted by the centre-half.

“If he misses the centre-half, then we’ve got Matty (Virtue) and Elliot (Embleton) running in on the goal.

“That sort of summed us up all the way through. We left ourselves open and they scored just before half-time.

“To then concede, straight away after the half-time break, from a corner, left us with a mountain to climb.

“We didn’t do enough with the ball in the second half and they were comfortable.”

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