This weekend, Blackpool will play in League One when they visit Fratton Park to take on Portsmouth, the league’s top team.
Unlike Pompey, the Tangerines were playing in the league this past weekend and defeated Shrewsbury Town by four goals. In addition to Jordan Rhodes and summer signing Kyle Joseph’s goals, Jake Beesley scored twice.
Due to international call-ups, Pompey’s game was rescheduled, giving them a break. With just one game remaining in the season, John Mousinho’s team leads the league by a point. Given Blackpool’s strong record against top-half opponents, a point would seem like a victory.
The 25-year-old played for the Blues in 50 appearances during the 2022–2023 season while residing in Hampshire. Now that he’s back at Bloomfield Road, he wants to get more involved after playing in the league just ten times this season.
Ollie Casey and Kenny Dougall made their comebacks over the weekend after serving their bans for their individual suspensions. Against Peterborough United, Dougall received five yellow cards, which resulted in a ban, while Casey received one straight red card.
Blackpool is going to enter a busy time of year where there will be two matches in a few weeks. Additionally, because of the festivities, games are squeezed into a brief amount of time, and the team still
See which Blackpool players are currently recovering from injuries and if they will be available for this weekend’s crucial match by flipping through.
1. Jordan Rhodes – knee
In the build-up to the 4-0 win over Shrewsbury Town it was revealed that Jordan Rhodes didn’t train. The 33-year-old scored from the penalty spot but was very nearly left out of the squad having been an undisclosed doubt ahead of kick-off. He did play, but now they’ll have to see if there’s any reaction to him playing on through the pain barrier. Expected return date: Fit
2. Jordan Rhodes – knee (continued)
“He didn’t train properly all week,” Neil Critchley explained. “He took a bang on his knee away to Bolton. He didn’t train until Thursday and was still a little bit sore on Friday. “Again, he put himself forward and wanted to play. When we scored the goals I thought it was a good idea to get him off the pitch. “I thought it epitomises the type of player Jordan is.
3. Ollie Norburn – cracked ribs
He was back in the Blackpool starting XI for Saturday’s trip to Bolton, but then missed the wins over Morecambe and Shrewsbury. Expected return date: November 25: Portsmouth
4. Ollie Norburn – cracked ribs (continued)
“Norbs (Ollie Norburn) got a crack in his ribs in the first half against Bolton last week,” Neil Critchley explained on November 16. “He seemed to go down and struggled, but he carried on through the game and finished it. He’s been very sore after it. “He’s been out on the grass doing a bit of running, and as he was before the Bolton game, he’s desperate to be involved. “When you’ve got an injury on your ribs, you struggle to breathe and running is difficult. “We’ll have to take a late call on him.”
5. Kylian Kouassi – hamstring
Kylian Kouassi was absent from the match-day squad against Shrewsbury Town at the weekend
6. Kylian Kouassi – hamstring (continued)
“Unfortunately Kylian had an injury in training after the game against Bolton,” Blackpool boss Neil Critchley explained on November 18. “He’s going to be missing for a bit of time. It’s his hamstring, and he’ll be missing for a good few weeks.”
7. Shayne Lavery – hamstring
Shayne Lavery is set for a spell on the sidelines. He is sidelined with a hamstring injury and that was a frustration for Northern Ireland boss Gary O’Neil who intended to recall him to the squad. Expected return date: December 9: Carlisle United (H) at the earliest
8. ST: Shayne Lavery
“He’s unfortunately out,” Neil Critchley said on November 15. “He had to come off against Bromley because he felt his hamstring. “We were hoping it would settle down, and it did initially, but then he wasn’t responding to treatment, so he went for a scan. “We got the results back at the end of last week, and now he’s set to be out for the next few weeks at least.”
9. Matty Virtue – hamstring
He hasn’t made a match-day squad since mid-September against Reading. Virtue has been sidelined with a hamstring injury, and at times there has been a lack of options in midfield. Expected return date: TBC
10. Matty Virtue – hamstring (continued)
“He’s started training more this week,” Critchley said on November 17. “He’s not too far away now. He’s a proven performer at this level so to get him back into the squad would give us another boost. “You know exactly what you’re going to get from Matty- he’s another player that I trust. “Him being on the pitch, whether that’s starting or off the bench, provides legs and energy, as well as that ability to also get into the box and score- which from a midfielder is invaluable.”
11. Tayt Trusty – leg
Tayt Trusty broke his leg in the EFL Trophy win against Morecambe last week. It was his first appearance of the season and he made a 19-minute cameo
12. Tayt Trusty – leg
“It’s not good,” Critchley said on November 16. “There’s a fracture there, he’s broken his leg- which is not nice for any young player. “It’s really unfortunate. He’ll get all the support he needs from all of us.”
