Fleetwood Town boss hopes for good news on the striking front

There were question marks over Ched Evans and Harvey Saunders after they were both stretchered off at Hull City last weekend but the pair are nearing a return.

Barton said: “They were both spark out, that’s why they had to be stretchered off the pitch.

“The long-term prognosis for both of them is fine, albeit this weekend might come a bit too soon.

“You’ve got to go through these different concussion protocols to sign off.

“You can’t put a date on it, you literally just have to pass these tests. Hopefully they come through that and are available for this weekend’s game.

“It was very unusual to have two of those sorts of injuries in the same game, especially the timing of them – a minute into the game and then a minute before half-time.

“So everything you’d worked on in the build-up has gone after one minute and all the things you were going to say at half-time, just as you’re trying to rearrange them, you pick up another injury.

“Before you know it you’ve used two substitutions and your strategy for the back end of the game is thrown out of the window.

“Everyone else has come out of the game fine. Mark Duffy was feeling a little tight so he’ll be touch and go for the weekend.

“He just felt something at the back end of the Sunderland game on Tuesday night but other than that it’s just bumps and bruises.”

Many other sides have felt the effects of an intense fixture list but Town have done well in terms of injuries.

However, Barton doesn’t believe that is down to good fortune.

He said: “I think it’s good planning, good preparation and good training. That’s what we believe in.

“We built this team hopefully to last the course of the 46 games, we’ve rotated and changed where other teams have been able to have more stability and a more consistent XI.

“My belief is that after 25, 30 and 40 games, the load and compression of it over the Saturday, Tuesday windows just means that, no matter how fit you are, you blow gaskets.

“I don’t know if any trends have emerged just yet but we also haven’t had the ability to rotate and not lose the quality during my tenure as we have now.

“We’re hoping that pays dividends as we get to the winter months and the business end.”

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