With the knowledge that Jordan Gabriel would probably miss the beginning of the season, Blackpool has been dealt a severe blow.
Head coach Michael Appleton told The Gazette following Blackpool’s exhibition match against Southport that he anticipated the right-back would return to training last week after recovering from a hamstring injury.
The medical staff and Gabriel have since had additional conversations, and it is now thought that the 23-year-old won’t be ready for the team’s July 30 opener against Reading.
Appleton stated the prognosis wasn’t good after last Thursday’s friendly loss to Leeds United.
He told The Gazette, “From the conversation we had with him and the medical staff on Wednesday, we’re not expecting him to see him until the back end of the following week.”
“It’s extremely unlikely that he’ll be ready for the season to start,”
Due to Dujon Sterling’s return to Chelsea at the end of the previous season, Blackpool is now without a suitable and available right-back on their roster.
A small offensive midfielder named Rob Apter has started there for Blackpool in both of their summertime exhibition games. Another graduate of the club’s academy, Jack Moore, has also made an appearance there.
Prior to the Seasiders acquiring Gabriel and Sterling, Callum Connolly started last season as a right-back fill-in. However, it seems Appleton prefers him in the position of deep-lying midfielder.
Fin Stevens, a full-back for Brentford who is also attracting interest from Reading and Swansea City, has recently been linked to Pool.
The immediate need for a right-back at Pool was addressed by Appleton, who said: “It’s one where we need to do a bit of work and certainly have someone that can take care of that position for us.”
Jerry Yates, a striker, was another player who was absent due to injury versus Leeds last week.
The striker, who did play against Southport in the first game, is currently out due to a relatively minor problem.
Appleton said, “He just rolled his ankle a couple of days ago and it’s still a little sore.
“We’re hoping to see him play against Salford if not Rangers. We don’t believe it to be anything significant, but it was sore after he rolled his ankle, so we didn’t want to take any chances.
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