For the first time this season, let's catch up with the news from our treatment table:
Richard Offiong has done well. His rehab has gone exactly as we hoped and that's down to him working really hard over the summer. With everyone else being away, it allowed him to do his running work and it hasn't cost him any fitness. He started with his ball work the week before last on a one-to-one basis and he trained with the squad last week. There were no problems there and, as we know, he teamed up with Darlington and played half a game with them on Saturday. That's great news for him and it is expected that he will carry on as normal now.
Danny Livesey was with the surgeon today and we are pleased to report that he will not need an operation. We expect him to be back in full training in approximately ten weeks time, so we can start working towards that immediately. It's still a medium term absence for him but the positive news from today means that there is definite light at the end of the tunnel.
Touch wood, the remainder of the first team squad are fit and ready to play, if selected.
Paddy O'Brien dislocated his shoulder in the game against Huddersfield last Tuesday but that was reduced (popped back into position) at the local hospital on the day. He will have a scan today, complete with a dye injection, so that the joint can be assessed fully. He'll see our professor down in Wigan tomorrow for a further consultation and a check for secondary damage to tendons and ligaments will be completed. He'll be in a sling for anything from four to six weeks and we expect him to be out for approximately three months. We'll have more of an idea on time frames after the surgeon's visit on Tuesday.
Bradley Potts picked up a bruised and swollen foot and ankle in the game against Hartlepool last Friday. He needs treatment for that at the moment but he should be involved in training again by the end of the week. He should be fine for the first Youth game of the season on Saturday.
Dave Symington got a nasty knock on his shin in the same game and that was also bruised. He had a bit of treatment on it this weekend and that seems to have done the trick, so he should be fine.
Mark Sloan had a slight groin problem and we had him doing his rehab programme through the latter part of last week. He seems to have made a full recovery and he is also back in full training.
James Bonner strained his thigh over a week ago and that has setlled well now. At this moment in time he is still only 50:50 for this weekend but we expect to see an improvement on a daily basis. He should definitely be back in full training next week.
Dan Jones should play at least half of the game today because he has trained fully for the last two weeks. If it all goes alright for him then he will be back and ready to go.
