After sustaining a horrific injury against Charlton Athletic, Jack Iredale might need to wear a protective headband when playing against his previous team, Cambridge United.
Chuks Aneke’s errant elbow caught the Wanderers defender, severely tearing his ear and need multiple stitches and medical attention.
Despite the injury, Iredale continued to play on Saturday and made a swift comeback to the practice field to ensure he would be in the lineup for Tuesday’s match at Abbey Stadium.
Midway through the second half, he went off. I believe the boy Aneke caught him with a very severe elbow, and his ear practically split in two. I’m not sure how it happens.
He needed to see a surgeon because the condition was serious enough. Jack deserves a lot of credit for his bravery, fortitude, and perseverance for the rest of the game.
And his Australian mullet did not cover that portion of his ear.
He might require some sort of Terry Butcher-style strapping to take care of it, but he’s a courageous young man who wants to go on.
Monday morning saw Ricardo Santos work out once more, and he could be included in the team for Saturday’s match against Blackpool. Dion Charles is expected to make his comeback on Tuesday when Wanderers visit DW Stadium to play Wigan Athletic.
Randell Williams will also return to training next week after a hamstring injury.
Goalkeeper Nathan Baxter is due to have the cast removed on his injured wrist next week, which will then give medical staff a better idea on his return date.
Wanderers managed just nine minutes of football on their last trip to Cambridge after a post kick-off deluge, and since then have drawn two and won one of their three games.
Every week, there is more pressure to get promoted, but Evatt is still “excited” about the challenge.
“We are well into February, and the season ends in April, so it doesn’t feel like that for us, I know,” he remarked. “For us, there is almost a third of the season left.”
“There are numerous points to be made. We are in a wonderful position and we are performing well.
“Although we are unhappy not to have won the game on Saturday, we are still managing to obtain results, and it appears that things are improving in terms of injuries, which will be very beneficial to us.
“Hopefully, everything will go well and we can wrap up the season with a wet sail.”
