[h=3]Albion taking care of midfield duo[/h]5:00am Thursday 14th November 2013 in Sport By Brian Owen
Andrew Crofts
Albion are nursing joint top scorer Andrew Crofts through the international break after he put his return to the Welsh squad on hold.
But head coach Oscar Garcia believes Crofts should be fit for the Seagulls’ first game after the current break, away to Wigan a week on Saturday.
Oscar is also cautiously optimistic a knock for Liam Bridcutt on his long-awaited Championship comeback is not enough to keep him out of more action. Both midfielders have worked away from the main squad this week but will make the trip to Lancashire barring any unforeseen setbacks.
Four-goal Crofts, who missed Wales’ recent games against Macedonia and Belgium, withdrew from the squad to face Finland on Saturday with what was reported by the FAW as “an ongoing groin problem.”
Oscar has revealed Crofts has been playing through discomfort in recent weeks.
The Seagulls boss said: “He has had problems in the hamstrings, and a bit in the groin area as well, for the last few weeks.
“We have been keeping an eye on him for quite a while.
“There have been days in the week when he could not train at 100%. He has had some pain this week and not trained.
“If he plays Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday, he risks missing games. He should be okay for Wigan because he will rest for these two weeks.”
Crofts has defied niggles to produce arguably his best run of form for the Seagulls in recent weeks He played with strapping in recent games and said after his point-saving goal against Watford: “I'm just keeping on top of things.
Albion fans were thrilled to see Bridcutt return during the 3-0 win over Doncaster last Saturday after missing three months out due to the effects of hernia surgery in August.
The medical team will keep a close eye on him after he took a blow to the knee in that game.
Oscar said: “He took a knock on the knee and he is working with the physios this week, away from the team. We hope he will be okay for Wigan.
“He didn’t really feel it during the match but he felt it in the following days.
“It is a shame but it’s just a knock. I imagine if everything goes as it should, there won’t be a problem for Wigan.”
Original article
Albion are nursing joint top scorer Andrew Crofts through the international break after he put his return to the Welsh squad on hold.
But head coach Oscar Garcia believes Crofts should be fit for the Seagulls’ first game after the current break, away to Wigan a week on Saturday.
Oscar is also cautiously optimistic a knock for Liam Bridcutt on his long-awaited Championship comeback is not enough to keep him out of more action. Both midfielders have worked away from the main squad this week but will make the trip to Lancashire barring any unforeseen setbacks.
Four-goal Crofts, who missed Wales’ recent games against Macedonia and Belgium, withdrew from the squad to face Finland on Saturday with what was reported by the FAW as “an ongoing groin problem.”
Oscar has revealed Crofts has been playing through discomfort in recent weeks.
The Seagulls boss said: “He has had problems in the hamstrings, and a bit in the groin area as well, for the last few weeks.
“We have been keeping an eye on him for quite a while.
“There have been days in the week when he could not train at 100%. He has had some pain this week and not trained.
“If he plays Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday, he risks missing games. He should be okay for Wigan because he will rest for these two weeks.”
Crofts has defied niggles to produce arguably his best run of form for the Seagulls in recent weeks He played with strapping in recent games and said after his point-saving goal against Watford: “I'm just keeping on top of things.
Albion fans were thrilled to see Bridcutt return during the 3-0 win over Doncaster last Saturday after missing three months out due to the effects of hernia surgery in August.
The medical team will keep a close eye on him after he took a blow to the knee in that game.
Oscar said: “He took a knock on the knee and he is working with the physios this week, away from the team. We hope he will be okay for Wigan.
“He didn’t really feel it during the match but he felt it in the following days.
“It is a shame but it’s just a knock. I imagine if everything goes as it should, there won’t be a problem for Wigan.”
Original article