Nigel Pearson discusses Matty James and Joe Williams' availability for trip to Coventry City Bristol City's midfield options look thin as they desperately need to address a worrying run of form that has seen them drop to 18th in the Championship Nigel Pearson is sweating on the availability of Matty James for Saturday's trip to Coventry City after the Robins midfielder aggravated a foot injury in the 3-0 defeat to Birmingham City. James left the field in the 54th minute after stretching to tackle Scott Hogan as Birmingham threatened to break and was swiftly replaced by Han-Noah Massengo. But the departure of the 30-year-old then led to the Robins losing any sense of control in the middle of the park as Massengo and Tyreeq Bakinson simply couldn't contain the hosts who quickly went from a slender 1-0 advantage to a commanding 3-0 lead. Pearson highlighted James' importance to the team post-match but with Tuesday night's injury a recurrence of a problem he suffered against Barnsley on Saturday, he appears a serious doubt for the weekend journey to Coventry, where he spent the second half of last season on loan. "It’s a foot injury that he had from the weekend and it was touch-and-go today (Tuesday)," Pearson said. For us to get nearly 60 minutes out of him was good and hopefully he’ll be okay for the weekend because we need him. "We’ve had players who have not performed when the heat starts to rise, when Matty James went off we totally lost control of the ball which shows how important he is to us." With Andy King out until at least December after undergoing hamstring surgery, if James can't make it for Saturday, based on the alarming performance of Massengo and Bakinson as a pair it leaves City worrying light in a key area of the field. Pearson confirmed, as previously scheduled, that Joe Williams has returned to full training at the Robins High Performance Centre and travelled with the rest of the squad to St Andrew's, without making the matchday 18. Three times has he recovered from soft tissue injuries only to then aggravate them a few games later, leading to more time in the treatment room, limiting him to just 271 Championship minutes since signing for the club last August. "Joe has trained all week, he travelled with us," Pearson added. "Whether he will be available at the weekend to start will be a decision based on what we think is right for him and for us of course. "When you’re dealing with someone who has had soft tissue injuries in the last 12 months and has had one again this season because he’s so desperate to get back, there’s an element of trying to make the right decisions for the longer term too. "We’ll see but ultimately if I don’t think players are up for it, they won’t be playing."
Our midfield Andy King out, Matty James injured, Joe Williams injured, Massengo suspect, Bakinson poor form, youngsters available Scott, Benarous, Pearson, wild card Palmer. We have got problems, major problems and we are away to Coventry, 4th place next.
Back to the same injury issues as last season that hurt DH after a good start. We have been some kind of unlucky in the last couple of years with injuries.
all round there seems to be desperation where has the " we wont risk players unless fully fit" logic gone ..... Matty James ..... For us to get nearly 60 minutes out of him was good and hopefully he’ll be okay for the weekend because we need him. ....really, bit like saying, tyre has a puncture, lets see if we can do the next 100 miles and get home ... ooops 40 miles to go, now stuck in the middle of nowhere .... IF that word again, ........... I [ top drawer medical consultant... not!!!! ] don’t think players are up for it, they won’t be playing." In the past couple of seasons we have had untold injuries ... even players commenting on how poor they feel things have been, treatment/recuperation/ etc ... why risk a player, and it is a self confessed "risk a player" when the likely outcome maybe a scenario like HNM and Bakinson... THERE IS A 2 WEEK BREAK COMING UP .... Plenty time for James to get sorted ... 2 LINES OF THOUGHT HERE NP plays him but has to sub him, but has a few days to get him fit again providing not aggravated an aggravated injury even more ... or sticking to the not fit it is a repetitive so likely will need more time and rest him for 2 weeks! oDowda /Palmer / Scott/ Benarous all likely capable on the day to do a turn
The only positive is Williams training again. If we can get 2 games from him before his next injury it might give the others a chance to recover.
I think the object of getting players fit is so they can play for a whole season?? getting a rotation of players fit so they can get 60 mins or 1 or 2 games from them causes disruption .. I do know from personal experience after a major op or broken bone individuals can "bend the advice" like rest and take it easy ..... A broken tib and fib ... 10 weeks in full length plaster whilst at boarding school ... plaster off 2nd week of December told would not play Rugby until "next sesaon / after easter." On follow up visit to hospital in first week of Feb, earned a severe bollicking from headmaster on return to school. Hospital phoned him because I had scratch's on my legs from stud marks playing rugby the week before! Broken wrist 2 weeks after plaster off back doing outdoor hobby underground .... hip operation told wouldnt be doing mountain climbing underground exploration for maybe a year ... 11 weeks!!! so I can see where players wanting to get back comes from ... but is it worth it? they are part of a team not just an individual like me ..... Take the extra time!!!!
