Neil Critchley pleased to see Blackpool getting bodies back for run-in

Neil Critchley is delighted to see Blackpool’s treatment room finally beginning to empty.
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CJ Hamilton made his long-awaited return from injury as a substitute in Tuesday’s 1-1 home draw with Crewe Alexandra.

The winger had been sidelined with a serious hamstring issue since December 19.

After CJ Hamilton's return on Tuesday Blackpool hope to have more injured players back soonAfter CJ Hamilton's return on Tuesday Blackpool hope to have more injured players back soon
After CJ Hamilton's return on Tuesday Blackpool hope to have more injured players back soon
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James Husband (calf) and Gary Madine (groin) are both closing in on a return, while Daniel Gretarsson – out since the start of January with a hamstring injury – will be back in full training next week.

Marvin Ekpiteta and Keshi Anderson remain longer-term concerns but the bigger picture looks far healthier than a couple of weeks ago.

Head coach Critchley said: “You’re going to need all of your best players between now and the end of the season.

“We’ve got a good squad, but Gary and CJ coming back would be big, big pluses for us.

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“Gary has been fantastic for us. He’s led the line brilliantly well this season.

“He’s scored goals for us, and him and Jerry (Yates) struck up a good partnership.

“Daniel Gretarsson should be back in team training early next week.

“It will be great to have him back as well because he was another good performer for us at the heart of the defence. It will be a big plus to get him back as well.

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“Hubby should be training today (Thursday), so if he comes through the next 48 hours he should be available for the AFC Wimbledon game on Saturday.”

The Seasiders head into this weekend’s game at Bloomfield Road on the back of a midweek draw that left Critchley with mixed feelings.

Visitors Crewe certainly merited their point but Blackpool were frustrated to concede just four minutes from time, an equaliser that denied them a fourth straight victory.

“We approach every game trying to win,” Critchley said. “It was a good game between two good teams and I thought a point was a fair reflection of how the game went.

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“But we’re disappointed we haven’t won because that’s our approach to games. Both teams were pushing to try and score the winner.

“We won’t settle to draw games. We want to win every game we play, and that’s the mindset we want to develop among the players and create at the club.

“We’re an attacking team that has an identity of being on the front foot and wanting to win every game, home or away. That’s what we always try to do.

“Will the point become a good one if we beat Wimbledon? It’s a big if, because every game is a tough game in this division and Wimbledon will be no different.

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“You just take each game in isolation and you just have to keep approaching every game trying to win.

“The more wins we get, the higher we’ll get in the table, it’s as simple as that.”

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