Rochdale Observer

No accounting for injury crisis

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KEITH Hill admits he’s never faced anything like the injury crisis which has hampered his squad’s push for a League One play-off place.

Since the turn of the year Hill has had to deal with a succession of injuries to key players and whenever the treatment room has looked set to clear, new injuries have befallen the squad.

Steven Davies – in just his second game back from a period on the sidelines – limped out of Saturday’s 2-2 draw at MK Dons, where Hill was forced to play Calvin Andrew and Joe Thompson despite the pair suffering like this before. “I’ve always considered the medics – it looks as with the second equalising with illness. Keith Sometimes you can’t this, Stadium:mk, one of though he’s got some sort goal in the 92nd minute. Keane, Joe Bunney, Reuben stop the negative the hardest places to of bug - and there are Noble-Lazarus and bounce, but one thing I come in the EFL, never other players who aren’t “I’ve got to give my Josh Lillis were all ruled am pleased about is that mind in League One, and 100-per cent match fit players a lot of credit out injured, while Matt we’ve reached the 50 we’ve scored two goals. yet. because they’re prepared Lund and Donal McDermott point mark with 12 “We’ve reached 50 “We were playing to go out there and play were suspended. games to go. points with 12 games to against a technical side for me while not being 100 Unfortunat­ely, it’s been “It’s been a difficult go. That’s the quickest who wanted to pass the per cent fit. par for the course so far 2017 – I feel as though I’ve we’ve reached the 50 ball around and I thought “Steven Davies, as a this year. had ten seasons rolled points mark in League we played well. I thought result of not being one

“In January, did I feel as into the last three One. the game plan was very hundred per cent fit, is though we had a team months!” “There are also a lot of good. now not fit again. capable of mounting a Dale led twice against positives throughout the “We deserved to be 1-0 “Matty Lund is serving a promotion play-off challenge? MK Dons only to be course of the season, but up. We absorbed a lot of two game suspension, One hundred per pegged back on both at this moment in time I pressure in the second Donal McDermott is still cent,” said Hill. occasions, the second feel sorry for my players. half without really looking suspended, while Joe

“I couldn’t have envisaged equaliser coming two What I’m putting them in too much danger, so Bunney and Josh Lillis what’s happened minutes into time added through is quite ridiculous their equaliser annoyed aren’t fit yet. since. Not with respect to on. – Calvin Andrew has me. “During the week, Reuben results, but with injuries “There were loads of had tonsilliti­s and hasn’t “Sometimes you can’t went over on his ankle and suspension­s. I’ve positives to take out of the trained all week. stop a bad bounce and and he’s going to be out never dealt with anything game,” said Hill “Joey Thompson is with that’s what happened for two or three weeks.”

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