No more Sakho this season

  • by Staff Writer
  • Thursday, 23rd March 2017

Diafra Sakho has all but been ruled out for the rest of the season.

The absent striker, who has missed all but two games this season with a back injury returned to training with the Under 23 squad this week but is unlikely to appear in a first team shirt until the summer, according to club medic Stijn Vandenbroucke.




"Diafra returned to training with the Under-23s this week in controlled sessions," he told whufc.com. "We tailor the sessions to manage his workload, gradually building him up.

"He has worked hard this week and will join the first team soon. However, we must be mindful that Diaf is essentially at the start of his own personal pre-season training schedule.

"When players return from their off-season, they will go through four to five weeks of pre-season work to build up their strength and fitness.

"After undergoing back surgery and three months of rehab, a player needs time to reach sufficient fitness levels before we can contemplate making him available for selection in the Premier League. "

In other injury news, club captain Mark Noble is expected to return in time for the trip to Hull - whilst it has been confirmed that Michail Antonio and Winston Reid are both likely to be sidelined for around a month.




"Michail was withdrawn from the England squad because he suffered a muscle injury, added Vandenbroucke. "He will be unavailable for the first team for three to four weeks. Winston Reid was withdrawn from the New Zealand squad after he suffered a muscle injury and will be out for five weeks.

"Mark will resume training with the first team later this week and be available to face Hull City on 1 April."

Sadly the news on Pedro Obiang is as bad as initially suspected. "Pedro suffered a nasty high ankle sprain injury while making a challenge during the second half," confirmed Vandenbroucke.

"He underwent surgery in London on Tuesday evening and is now recovering at home. Unfortunately, he will be unavailable for a significant period, and will be ready for next season’s preparation in July."

Elsewhere Angelo Ogbonna is expected to restart training with the first team in mid-April, having recovered from his knee surgery as expected, whilst Academy star Domingo Quina continues with his rehabilitation.

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