Ndaba return timely but he can’t be rushed
NO ILL EFFECTS FOR ON-LOAN DEFENDER AFTER PLAYING FOR 30 MINUTES LAST WEEKEND AS HUGHES FACES FORTNIGHT OUT
CORRIE Ndaba’s long-awaited return from a calf injury for an assured half-hour from the bench in Burton Albion’s 6-1 FA Cup win over Chippenham Town last week looks to be perfectly timed with Sam Hughes facing another fortnight out with a thigh strain.
But manager Dino Maamria is wary of asking too much, too soon of the highly-rated on-loan Ipswich Town defender.
Captain John Brayford also returned from injury and played the full 90 minutes last week, while Adrian Mariappa is still easing himself along with a glute issue – which was why Ndaba replaced him after 66 minutes last week.
Maamria is therefore weighing up his options carefully ahead of tomorrow’s basement battle away to MK Dons, which has a 12.30pm kick-off.
“The big positive is having John and Corrie back, it gives us options,” said Maamria.
“They have been good in training. But we’ve got to be sure not to overload Corrie, we have to manage him for the next two or three weeks to get him going again.
“He’s been in this position before, where he was fit for a week or two and then broke down again.”
The situation is new to 22-yearold Ndaba, who has not had a sustained spell out injured previously in his career.
“He played a lot of games for Salford City last season, where I think he was player of the season,” said Maamria.
“He’s calm on the ball, he has good pace and is athletic. He has a lot of good attributes.
“He’s generally a fit boy and his attitude is spot on.
“He loves the gym, he loves to stay fit, so it’s been a very unusual start to the season for him.
“Sam Hughes has pulled his thigh and will probably be out for another two weeks. It’s a big blow for us because he’s arguably been our best player and we’ll have to find a different solution.
“I think we can use Corrie at left-back or left-sided centre back but the key now is to keep him fit.
“Also, Adrian Mariappa is still nursing the injury he had a couple of weeks ago and we’ll have a look at that one and make a decision.”