Eddie Howe has been speaking to the media this morning, offering an update on injuries and availability ahead of Sunday’s clash with Nottingham Forest.
The boss has been discussing the fitness of Sven Botman and Joelinton – two players who missed our 4-0 defeat at Man City last weekend due to knee injuries – while Dan Burn and Jamaal Lascelles also came up.
Here’s what Howe has had to say on both, offering some good and bad news on their injury status heading into a crucial run of games.
Botman and Joelinton updates
Eddie Howe has confirmed that Sven Botman (knee) looks set to miss this weekend’s clash with Nottingham Forest.
The boss admits he is “making good progress”, but hasn’t recovered quite as quickly as we hoped and is not quite ready to return.
Howe said: “Not this weekend, barring a miraculous recovery. We will see how things stand for next week. He is making good progress, just not as quickly as we wanted. He’s on track, just not quite ready.”
“This is a totally different injury to the knee (not linked to his ACL last year). As soon as he’s ready and fit, we’ll look to get him back.”
Joelinton is doing “really well” and “pushing” to return, but it looks like he’ll also miss out on Sunday, with Howe conscious of bringing him back at the “right time.”
Howe said: “He (Joelinton) is doing really well. Pushing, as Joe always does. We just need to make sure we introduce him at the right time.”
Burn boost, Lascelles delay
Sky Sports’ Keith Downie also asked for an update on Dan Burn’s fitness this morning, with the centre-back nursing a groin problem before making a swift return at Man City last weekend.
However, there has been no flare up of that injury and he’s trained all week with no issues, said Howe.
That is a relief given Botman’s absence, with Burn expected to partner Fabian Schar at the back against in-form Forest striker Chris Wood.
As for Jamaal Lascelles, Howe revealed that our former skipper is in a “pretty good place” and aiming to be back “towards the end of the season” after doing some “extraordinary hours” behind the scenes on his comeback from an ACL injury.
Why is it that every time a key player gets injured he is out for weeks on end – never just a couple of games. And what makes it worse is the “close but not quite” broken record put out by the manager game after game – just tell it like it is at the start and be done with it!
Steve(Quote)