The good news today is that key trio Allan Saint-Maximin, Miguel Almiron and Jamaal Lascelles look likely to return ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Watford, but there’s some mixed news elsewhere.
On the plus side, Bruce reveals that forgotten man Florian Lejeune should play again this season and may even return to action “next week”, however he’s all but confirmed that Ciaran Clark’s season is over after struggling to fully recover from ankle surgery.
Elsewhere, there’s also serious doubts around whether Isaac Hayden or Sean Longstaff will play again this season following recent hamstring strains.
Here’s what he’s had to say:
“We’ve got one or two coming back which is always good.
“Florian Lejeune might be available towards the end of next week.”
“I would doubt we’ll see Ciaran Clark again this season.
“He had an ankle operation and, unfortunately, he’s got a complication in that area. He’s not comfortable.”
There were no direct comments on Hayden and S Longstaff, but Bruce said earlier this week that both could miss “two to three weeks” – a timescale that seems pretty damning when the season will be over in just over a fortnight’s time.
As for Lejeune, it would be nice if he can get a bit of game time before the season finishes, with him having no luck with injuries over the past few years and struggling badly over a congested Christmas period the last time he was thrown into the side.
Let’s also hope Clark’s ankle sorts itself out soon, with the 2020/21 season likely to come relatively soon after this one ends!
