'Not for today' - Ian Evatt makes feelings clear on Blackpool's current pre-season injuries
Blackpool were without their fair share of players for Saturday afternoon’s pre-season meeting with Tranmere Rovers.
Ian Evatt isn’t concerned by Blackpool’s current injury situation - and states the key is ensuring the players are at full throttle for the actual campaign.
A number of senior players missed the Seasiders’ 2-0 defeat to Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park on Saturday afternoon.
Fraser Horsfall and Michael Ihiekwe are continuing to make progress in their rehab after undergoing their respective surgeries at the end of last season, while Olly Casey, George Honeyman, Leighton Clarkson and Tom Bloxham were all absent from the trip to Birkenhead due to minor problems.
Head coach Evatt is hoping the short-term pain Blackpool are suffering now will ensure they avoid the large number of injury crises they faced last term.
“Not training and not working hard isn’t going to build tolerance and robustness,” he said.
“We’re pushing the players at every opportunity - within reason; we don’t want to break them, that’s not the plan either.
“We’re trying to be smart and strategic with what we’re doing, but we’re trying to get them into a position where we are full throttle, really intense, and able to sustain that. That’s really important. We don't want spells where we are going to pick up muscle injuries which sometimes can be avoidable.
“Obviously, you’re always going to get injuries, but the plan for me is to get the players as fit as possible. That’s not for today, that’s for the start of the season.”