Injury time looks over at last for Wasps duo
TWO of Wasps’ long-term injured players look set to be in the mix for the concluding rounds of the Gallagher Premiership season.
The Black and Golds are back in action on Sunday, August 16 when they travel to Franklin’s Gardens to tackle fourth-placed Northampton Saints.
Head coach Lee Blackett, speaking to the Coventry Telegraph at the club’s training ground base at Broadstreet RFC this week, gave an update on two players who haven’t featured for the club in league action this season.
Scrum-half Ben Vellacott was signed last summer from Gloucester to replace Joe Simpson who headed in the opposite direction.
However, his bid to compete with Dan Robson for the number nine shirt was derailed as he damaged knee ligaments during the Premiership 7s event at Franklin’s Gardens in September. The 25-year-old underwent surgery and appeared to have completed his rehabilitation and returned to training prior to lockdown, sharing a positive image on social media in March. Blackett, who has rotated youngsters Will Porter and Sam Wolstenhome behind Robson so far this term, believes the break could have benefits for former Scotland Under-20 international.
“The funny thing with Ben was, our last training session before lockdown was Ben’s first training session back,” said the Wasps head coach. “He celebrated being back [on social media] but unfortunately things changed.
“It could be a blessing, giving him more time. But he worked so hard to get himself back so he was disappointed but he has come back in great shape and has been really impressive in training.”
Winger Callum Sirker, like Vellacott, was hugely impressive during the Premiership 7s, scoring eight tries across the two-day event.
His blistering pace and lethal finishing
It could be a blessing, giving him more time. He has come back in great shape and has been really impressive.
saw the Wasps academy graduate earn a start for the Premiership Cup opener that followed a week later against Saracens.
The 22-year-old was a try scorer in the 50-28 defeat but started the season out on loan at Championship club Ampthill. Unfortunately the former England 7s international also suffered an ACL knee injury that required reconstructive surgery.
“We’re not a million miles away with Callum,” said Blackett. “We’re hoping pretty soon we will be able to get him into small parts of training and we will build from there but I wouldn’t imagine Callum is too much longer.”
Assessing the squad on the whole just 10 days away from ending a fivemonth break from action, Blackett added: “We’ve had the odd tweak here and there, nothing serious, we’re hoping we won’t be too far off a full squad going in.
“We might be one or two down but it’s not often you get so many people available as we have.”