Eddie Howe believes Jamaal Lascelles’ injury is not a long-term problem, but it looks like he’ll miss our New Year’s Day trip to Liverpool along with EIGHT others
With no injured players expected back in the “next few days”, the likes of Nick Pope, Jacob Murphy, Harvey Barnes, Joe Willock, Elliot Anderson, Javier Manquillo, Matt Targett and Sandro Tonali look set to be absent once again.
However, Joelinton is fit again and avoided his fifth yellow card of the season in our Boxing Day defeat to Nottingham Forest, meaning the Brazilian should be ready to start against Jurgen Klopp’s Reds.
Speaking to the press yesterday, Howe appeared to hint at none of our injured players will return at Anfield, also revealing that several players (Burn, Botman, Longstaff, Isak?) are still “finding their fitness” after spells out:
“My gut feeling is always that the answer relies within. The players we have here, I think we’re good enough. Of course, we’ve suffered the injuries we’ve had and those players you see aren’t available… I don’t think anyone is coming back in the next few days.
Asked if Jamaal Lascelles’ recent injury is a long-term issue, he replied: “No, we don’t think so.”
However, there’s good news on Joelinton, who is fit-again and ready to start for the first time since our 3-0 win over Fulham after being a “massive miss” in the side:
“It was really good that we had Joelinton return today, he’s been a massive miss for us, and we’ve still got players that are finding their fitness from playing matches, which is never ideal. And there was several players on the pitch today in that respect.
“We’ve not had it easy and I think that needs to be acknowledged by me more than anyone else in my reflection of the team.”
