Nobody wants to see players get injured and AFCB are just starting to get a bit of a collection of injuries and niggles that are bound to give the manager decisions to make in the coming games. The knowledge that Harry Arter left Dean Court on crutches after the Hull City win and news after the international break of other serious knocks will add up to a fair amount of work for AFCB's physio team in the coming weeks.
Last season the injuries made it really difficult for the side to put points on the board early on as the side had to be re-organised to make them more effective. Hopefully, it won't mean too much inconvenience this season with the patients starting to mount. AFCB have more depth this time and we have seen the players that Howe has brought in like Brad Smith and Nathan Aké able to play in a number of positions. Brad Smith is one of those utility players though that is injured and it is important that the side does not loose too many of those players that can cover a number of positions.
Max Gradel also could be unavailable for a short while after his international game and with Marc Pugh also missing from the squad there is at least some cover with Ryan Fraser and Josh King. It may be difficult to see Lewis Cook having much chance to establish himself on the south coast before Christmas with his ankle injury, and that may mean the FA Cup will be his best chance of making an impact. Eddie may well use that as an incentive in the midfielder's recovery and would put a halt to all the gossip about a return to Leeds Utd in January.
Eddie Howe has used the least number of players in the starting line ups for games so far with 15 before the Hull City game. But handing out starts to players that have been on the bench could bring a good opportunity to one or two who AFCB fans have been hoping to see.
I'm still going for an unchanged side this Saturday though.
Probable team: Boruc (GK), A Smith (RB), Francis (CB), S Cook (CB), Daniels (LB),
Stanislas (RW), Arter (CM), Surman (CM), Ibe (LW), Wilshere (FW), C Wilson (FW)
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| Max Gradel is among those who will be missing out this weekend, but fingers crossed - Harry Arter may miraculously recover to start again. |
Max Gradel also could be unavailable for a short while after his international game and with Marc Pugh also missing from the squad there is at least some cover with Ryan Fraser and Josh King. It may be difficult to see Lewis Cook having much chance to establish himself on the south coast before Christmas with his ankle injury, and that may mean the FA Cup will be his best chance of making an impact. Eddie may well use that as an incentive in the midfielder's recovery and would put a halt to all the gossip about a return to Leeds Utd in January.
I'm still going for an unchanged side this Saturday though.
Probable team: Boruc (GK), A Smith (RB), Francis (CB), S Cook (CB), Daniels (LB),
Stanislas (RW), Arter (CM), Surman (CM), Ibe (LW), Wilshere (FW), C Wilson (FW)
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