Manager Matt Bloomfield has spoken to the local media ahead of Saturday’s second home game in five days, as we welcome Cardiff City to Kenilworth Road.
Chris Makosso is available again after serving his three-match suspension, and the manager gave positive updates on Nahki Wells – who missed the Bradford and Wigan games through injury, and Mads Andersen, who sat out the midweek victory.
“Christ is over his ban, which is really good,” said Bloomfield. “Nahki is back on the grass so we are half-hopeful of having him available, we still need to let the last couple of days play out with him.
“We’ve still got a question mark over Mads with his tight hamstring from the weekend, but we are hopeful – maybe not definite.
“With having such a busy schedule of games, this is the fifth in two weeks, there are a few more question marks than what we would like right now, but it’s a necessary evil being in a busy schedule.
“We need to let the next 24 hours play out and make sure we know physically that we’ve got a team that is ready to go and run on Saturday, because it’s going to be a tough game.
“That’s really important for us to have the energy and physicality to really take on this challenge.”
Bloomfield also had positive news on the imminent return of Reuell Walters, who is likely to be available for Burton on Saturday week, Jacob Brown, who he hopes to have running outside on the grass from Monday, and Tahith Chong, as the attacking midfielder recovers from a groin injury sustained on the second day of pre-season training.
“He has just started joining back in with the first elements of the passing drills with the lads, he’s back in training,” the manager replied when asked about Chong, pictured below in training this week.
“I think this Saturday comes too soon, but certainly by next week he’ll be part of the group and part of the considerations.
“We are going to have to be a little bit gentle with him, but he has had plenty of sessions with the medical team and sports science team, so he’s been building that robustness away from the group.
“Now he’s coming back into sessions with the first team, so we hope to include him as soon as we can, but again, make sure that we are careful.”
There was also an update on Izzy Jones, who underwent a scan this week as he recovers from a stress fracture in his back which was also picked up during pre-season.
“The scan has been good,” said Bloomfield. “The stress fracture in his back is healing, so it’s got to be a slightly slower return to play than what we had hoped for, but that’s just because of where the healing process is at.
"He’s still going to be six-eight weeks, I believe, before we’ve got him back amongst the training group, but the good thing to report is that it’s healing, he’s heading in the right direction.”
