Update issued on defender ahead of Blackpool's meeting with Luton Town
Blackpool travel to Kenilworth Road to take on Luton Town this weekend.
Blackpool will need to take caution over Michael Ihiekwe’s work load following his recent return from injury - but he will be fine to feature on Saturday.
The experienced figure has won several promotions from League One throughout his career, with both Rotherham United and Sheffield Wednesday, but has struggled to find consistency in Tangerine - with a long-term injury being a mitigating factor behind that.
For the majority of his time at Bloomfield Road since his summer switch, the 33-year-old has struggled with a toe problem.
After playing through the pain for an extended period of time, the centre back was withdrawn at half time of a home meeting with Lincoln City last month, and was kept away from match action while he waited for a steroid injection.
With the procedure proving successful, Ihiekwe was able to return to training ahead of Saturday’s game against Northampton Town before immediately being placed back in the starting XI for the 2-0 victory.
The defender was then rested for the midweek 2-1 defeat to Stockport County, with the injection that allowed him to feature against the Cobblers stopping him from featuring so soon after.
Providing an update on if he would be ready for this weekend’s game away to Luton Town, head coach Ian Evatt said: “He will return. Obviously he’s still managing this issue but Saturday to Saturday is fine for him.
“Michael Obafemi is also absolutely fine. Leaving him out on Tuesday helps him recover and go again on Saturday.
“Other than the ones missing that everyone’s aware of, there’s nobody else.”
Blackpool expecting injury boost heading into February
In a rare bit of good news for Blackpool, Albie Morgan is ahead of schedule in his recovery from injury after missing the last month of action.
“There’s positivity, it potentially looks like he could be back next week,” Evatt added.
“Albie’s the next one off the list. Hayden Coulson is doing pretty well, but that’s a tendon injury so we have to be cautious. Hopefully he’s not too far behind.
“Then Joel (Randall) and George (Honeyman) are pretty close to that as well.”
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