Albion confirm key defenders facing at least four weeks out
BRAYFORD, BOSTWICK HAVE ‘GRADE TWO’ MUSCLE TEARS
JOHN Brayford and Michael Bostwick face at least four weeks out after scans on the injuries they sustained last week against Plymouth Argyle, Burton Albion manager Jake Buxton has confirmed.
The news heaps further problems on the Brewers’ beleaguered defence, which has conceded 14 goals in the last four matches, all of which have been lost.
It is a record Burton will be aiming to improve upon in another difficult-looking away fixture against Bristol Rovers tomorrow.
Buxton is putting a brave face on it.
“They both had scans on Monday morning and they both have grade two tears,” said Buxton.
“John Brayford’s is to his quad and Michael Bostwick’s to his calf, so both will be missing for four weeks minimum.”
Muscle injuries range in severity from one to four, so Brayford’s and Bostwick’s could have been worse.
A grade one tear normally means 10-14 days out, grade two four-six weeks, grade three sixeight weeks and a grade four is a full rupture, in which the muscle has come away from the bone and could take a deal longer.
“We have good personnel to come in. We have John-joe O’toole to come back after injury last week,” said Buxton, who also witnessed a solid debut from on-loan defender Sam Hughes in last week’s 2-0 defeat to Plymouth.
“We’ve had problems with injuries and suspensions but we do the work, trying to get that solidness, whether it’s with a back three or a back four and we’ll try to be a bit harder to beat and to get a clean sheet.”
The lack of numbers in the squad currently stopped Buxton from organising a friendly for his players in midweek.
“We didn’t risk a game because of the lack of numbers and the players will be required for Bristol,” he said. “We’ve wrapped JJ (O’toole) in cotton wool to make sure he’s available.” Charles Vernam’s knee injury is likely to keep him out for another fortnight and Ryan Edwards is a doubt after missing a day’s training with a niggle.
But Lucas Akins and Stephen Quinn, who played last week after being rated as doubtful, should be OK and on-loan midfielder Jack Roles will return after being away on duty with Cyprus under-21s.
One bright spot on the lenghty injury list is left-back Reece Hutchinson, who has been given the all-clear to return to full training.
Hutchinson missed all of preseason after injuring his foot while out for a run during the early stages of lockdown in the spring.
“We’ve had a massive plus with Reece,” said Buxton.
“He’s had a consultant’s appointment and he’s OK to join in with training with the group, with full contact.
“Reece struggled throughout lockdown with the injury and it’s a massive plus for us as a group and for him that’s he’s back with us on a daily basis.”
We are trying to get that solidness and we’ll try to be a bit harder to beat and to get a clean sheet.
Jake Buxton