Based on the training photos released by the club on Thursday afternoon, there could be as many as SIX first-team players missing for Saturday’s trip to Watford.
The latest snaps from the Benton base suggest that Callum Wilson, Jonjo Shelvey, Joe Willock, Jamaal Lascelles, Paul Dummett, and Freddie Woodman all sat out of today’s session.
Wilson (thigh) was expected to be injured until after the October break and we knew about knocks to Dummett, Shelvey and Woodman, however it seems Willock – spotted in a protective boot earlier this week – could be set to miss out on Saturday.
The Mail’s Craig Hope insisted earlier today that the boot is a ‘precautionary’ measure, stating that he’s suffered no ‘serious injury’, but whether he’ll be fit enough to play this weekend is not yet clear.
Lascelles’ absence also raises fresh questions in defence, with U23 talent Remi Savage called up to first-team training in the skipper’s absence.
On the plus side, Martin Dubravka is in the photos and back in action for the first time in months, although it would be a surprise if he’s passed fit to play this Saturday when Steve Bruce speaks to the press tomorrow morning.
Elsewhere, U23 talents Joe White, Jack Young and 17-year-old stopper Max Thompson are all pictured taking part in the session alongside Savage – the new recruit signed from Liverpool’s Academy over the summer.
Good to see four young talents handed the chance to train with the first-team – something Elliot Anderson has been doing for a while now – however we’ll have to hope the senior players they’ve replaced won’t be out for long…
Surely Matty Longstaff would be training with Aberdeen?
Michael(Quote)