Defensive woes for AFCB

Now with the injuries and suspensions for the defenders in the squad, AFCB are down to the bare bones. While Adam Smith, Charlie Daniels, Steve Cook and Tyrone Mings are likely to make up next week's back four, I am starting to wonder if Bailey Cargill will be recalled from his loan period at Gillingham that was due to end in January anyway. Bailey could certainly be used as a sub and if Eddie can't get a loan player or permanent signing in the next couple of weeks, we could be seeing more of Bailey back in the squad, which I am sure was not part of the plan for him. 

Nathan Aké is going back to Chelsea.

The recall of Nathan Aké could not have come at a worse time, along with Simon Francis' suspension. It's no wonder that AFCB tried to appeal the captain's red card against Arsenal. Injuries to Marc Wilson, hamstring, and Brad Smith's head injury at Millwall have just added further discomfort to preparations against Hull City. While Hull have not got the best goalscoring record they will be at home and it may just be that Eddie has to play a back three up there.

Advertisement

Broomhill Garden Conservatories

Would Daniels, Cook and Adam Smith be such a bad way to go up at Hull City? Three at the back could certainly be a solution. The players enjoyed playing like that against Chelsea even if the result was not great. There are also plenty of midfielders to play and put on the bench now with Lewis Cook coming back towards full fitness, even if Emerson Hyndman looks set for a loan period at Glasgow Rangers.

In the longer term it seems that AFCB might be in talks with Liverpool over the recruitment of Mamadou Sakho and/or Joe Gomez, according to the Daily Mail.