Through the seasons before us..

It’s no real shock, after limping off against Port Vale at the City Ground, it’s been confirmed after a scan that striker Nathan Tyson has torn his hamstring.  The small silver lining is the tear isn’t thought to be serious enough to keep him out for too long - but he will certainly miss the upcoming games against Gillingham tomorrow, and Huddersfield on new year’s day.

In many ways it’s par for the course with whippet-quick strikers like Nathan, the unnatural strain he must put on his leg muscles when accelerating so quickly must make him susceptible to injuries (although I’m no physio expert!).  As we’ve seen before, he’s a quick healer so hopefully he’ll be back in action sooner rather than later - for the conspiracists amongst you he’s ruled out by injury just as the transfer window opens - but the conspiracy doesn’t last long when he’s expected to return earlyish in January.

The other hamstring victim Julian Bennett has been confirmed as having a worse tear, which explains his extended absence from the side - which will continue in tomorrow’s game at Priestfield.  A pity given that Smoulds has - in his infinite wisdom - deigned that right-footed James Perch is a better bet at leftback than Matt Lockwood, who was at least fit enough to take a place on the substitutes bench.

Good news is that we have no further injury scares following the Boxing Day game at Oldham - although that’s hardly surprising as the reports from fans who crazily made the trip up there reported that there was hardly a lot of effort exerted by either side.  Perhaps a few too many sherries and turkey for both sides, or a few too many Quality Street chocolates for some of the players… let’s hope they’ve worked it off in time for the game against the Gills…