Manager Rob Edwards gave a team news update at his pre-match Press conference today, revealing that Mads Andersen is facing a lengthy spell out with a hamstring injury but that a replacement, Gabe Osho, is back in the matchday squad for the first time this season for tomorrow's trip to Nottingham Forest.
Danish centre-back Andersen went off in the second half of the defeat to Tottenham Hotspur just before the international break, and joins an injury list that still features fellow defender Amari’i Bell and long-term casualties Jordan Clark, Dan Potts and Sambi Lokonga.
“Mads has got quite a nasty hamstring injury, so he’ll be a couple of months – it’s a real shame,” said Edwards, who explained that Bell “is doing well” and “won’t be too far away now”, while Clark is “back on the grass” and “feeling better and more positive by the day”.
Potts and on-loan Arsenal midfielder Lokonga will be longer, with the former having a long-term hamstring problem addressed while progressing from his ankle ligament injury sustained in Germany during pre-season.
But the manager gave all Hatters a boost before the trip to the City Ground with news that 25-year-old Osho is in the squad for the first time since the play-off final win at Wembley in May.
“A little bit ahead of schedule as well, and that’s great credit to Gabe himself, all of the staff, the medical team, the sports science staff, who have put a lot of time, effort and work in along with Gabe to get him into this position now,” said Edwards.
“He’s someone we are going to have to manage, so people shouldn’t expect too much too soon in terms of minutes. But he’s a really important player for us, massive for us in the success we had, and I’ll never forget that. He played a huge, huge role in the club’s promotion, so I’m really pleased to have him back.”
Recent signing Andros Townsend will also feature in the Town squad for the first time since signing a short-term contract.
“He brings quality, he’s a really good footballer,” added Edwards. “He’s a brilliant person, he’s really experienced at this level and I think he brings with him a real professionalism, someone who knows the level, brilliant around the place, impeccable attitude in training, and know-how – he brings a lot of qualities to us.
“We’ve got to now make sure we get things right. He’s a very fit individual, naturally fit, he looks after himself. There is a difference between being fit and match fit as well, so we’ve got to get that right because we hope he’ll make a real impact for us.”
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