I highly doubt Diame will feature at all on Saturday. He's been out almost a year, no pre season, he'll be well oot of touch. His fitness levels will be very low too.
I know we've had lads out on loan at Scarborough, Harrogate and Gainsborough Trinity who were still playing in reserve games, though I'm not sure if it's different when they're out at league clubs.
What's this 'out for almost a year' nonsense.. he played two games for us in, what, March? Prior to those games he was considered back to full fitness, or thereabouts, then reinjured himself and was put in for another op. He's been back in training so his fitness doesn't need as much work as say, Snoddy's.
I did, which is why I included the 'thereabouts' proviso. He was considered fit enough for a cameo in two consecutive PL games, so he was hardly a fat slob. That was four months ago. Yes he's been back in surgery in the mean time, but this line about 'out for almost a year' is complete crap.
I dunno why people assume he hasn't spent the last few weeks getting fit. It's not like his knee has just stopped hurting this week so he's back in.
It will be all change with fresh legs. Rochdale is the perfect game to give others a go and many a rest. The team I would like to see (but wont) is..... Jakupovic Taylor Maguire Bruce Townsend Jahraldo-Martin Dixon Hayden Clucas Luer Jelavic(last chance to do something) Strong bench with Mo Diame incl.
Might not be a popular decision (judging by the calls to bench certain players) but I reckon SB will play the vast majority of the starting line-up from Saturday in a bid to get that game out of their system asap.
That's a big match-day squad Edit: Sorry tigerscanada I posted my reply before I got to the end of the thread
CJM and Dixon were subbed at half time, I thought that could point to them being on the bench. Lenihan and Luer were missing so I'd expect them to be involved.
Mohamed Diame says he cannot wait to feel the ‘buzz’ of playing football again as he prepares to put his injury nightmare behind him. Diame has had to watch on from the sidelines for the best part of nine months in an attempt to fully recover from a knee injury that has plagued him since arriving from West Ham United almost a year ago, but there is now light at the end of the tunnel for the midfielder, who hopes to play some part in tonight’s Capital One Cup second round tie against Rochdale. “I’ve missed the buzz of playing football massively,” said Diame. “When you’re only watching football on TV or in the stands, it is very, very difficult. When you do something you love every single day and that is then taken away from you for such a long time, it is incredibly frustrating. “I’ve missed the KC Stadium so much - the atmosphere, the crowd - I’m looking forward to the experience once again. Obviously it’s up to the gaffer but if I am involved tonight, then I am determined to play my part in helping to send our fans home happy.”
Possibly, but I suspect that if there were any plans for CJM and Dixon to be involved tonight, they wouldn't have been involved at all last night.
