It Keeps Getting Worse

Martin O’Neill has confirmed that is it hugely unlikely that Martin Laursen will play again before the end of the season.

This is something most fans have feared and thought for quite a while now, but now it’s confirmed.

Laursen has been out since the Albion game in January, where he was rushed back/wanted to get back way too early and we are paying for that joint mistake now.

Speaking on the official site, O’Neill said:

‘Martin is struggling. There’s not much more to say. He’ll be struggling to play again before the end of the season.’

As for our other injury concerns, shall we go in order:

Gabby Agbonlahor

‘Gabby came off the pitch on Sunday with a hamstring niggle. It seems to be getting better. But we are awaiting the results of a scan which should be through some time later this afternoon.

‘At the back of the doctor’s mind is a concern that he may have strained it. That would make him doubtful for this weekend’s game. He certainly seems to be responding – no doubt about that – but he still remains a doubt for the West Ham match.

Freddy Bouma

‘Wilfred has suffered a bit of a setback over the past week. He was doing well – he played in the Tottenham reserve game but his ankle felt sore afterwards.

‘He is a little bit uncomfortable at the moment. He hasn’t trained but it shouldn’t be too bad. I feel he has just had a bit of a setback. We hope it’s days rather than weeks.’

The good news – Emile Heskey

‘Emile has trained for the last couple of days and that is encouraging for us. It would be good if he could make it for the weekend.

‘We will see how he is later in the week because we have a few days yet. But at least he has been out training and he is certainly making progress.’

So there we go, no Laursen, no Bouma, who knows on Cuellar, and potentially no Gabby…..but Heskey could be fit for Wet Spam.