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Hurst: Few Calls on Free Agents
Monday, 1st Oct 2018 13:29

Town boss Paul Hurst says he’s received few calls so far pushing free agent strikers in his direction, the Blues having lost frontmen Jon Walters and Ellis Harrison to injury in the last week. Hurst is also not yet considering recalling striker Aaron Drinan from his spell with Vanarama National League Sutton United.

The Blues manager says everyone feels for summer signing Harrison, who ruptured a ligament in his ankle in training, Walters having been ruled out for the rest of his loan with an achilles injury earlier in the same week.

“I’ve just seen [Ellis] in there and I’m sure is down about it but he’s not really showing that outwardly and that’s a testament to the sort of character he is,” Hurst said.

“And he’ll still very much have his part to play in the dressing room and around the place. He’s a cheery character and we just wish him the speediest recovery he can have.

“I think he’s due to see a specialist on Wednesday when we’ll find out a little bit more, whether it’s definitive, in terms of a timeframe, I’m not quite sure, but as I said the other day an absolutely minimum of two months.

“Hopefully that’s what it will be in the end and we can get him back training and back playing.”


Town’s only route to add to their squad before January is via the free agent market but Hurst says he’s not had too many agents on the phone reminding him of their player’s availability.

“No, I’m aware of a couple, but how many there are out there [I don’t know],” he said. “So no, it’s not like before the window shut certainly.

“We’ll keep looking, but at the minute the priority is the game and then arrangements ready for our long trip to Swansea.

“But people are looking at things and will be taking calls etc to see if there’s anything which can help us along the way.”

He says he’s not yet considering recalling Drinan, 20, from National League Sutton, where he is yet to score in four league starts and eight sub appearances.

“Not at the minute, in truth. We’ve got Kayden Jackson and we’ve got Freddie Sears, admittedly not a similar type to what we’ve lost or to Aaron.

“Maybe it’s a chance for them to have a run of games, certainly one of them and then along the way if nothing does change, it might be a case of giving a younger player an opportunity.

“So, we’ll see how the situation develops and how we’re going, but certainly one thing is that we don’t want to suffer another injury in that department, so fingers crossed we won’t get that.”

Hurst says the facility to recall Drinan is available to him, although the same isn’t the case with Ben Morris, who is with League Two Forest Green Rovers, while Ben Folami is currently away with the Australia U19s.

“I think with Aaron’s we can but there’s a few out on loan. I don’t know [if we will look to do that]. If it really comes to it and I think that’s the best course of action then that’s what we’ll look at.

“But at the minute, while we haven’t got tons of options, I want to focus on what we have got and hopefully we can get performances out of them and the team to help us get the results we want.”

Hurst says Jack Lankester, 17, could come into his thoughts for a place in the squad having impressed in the U23s this season.

“Possibly, he’s certainly been bright since I joined the football club,” he said. “I think every time I’ve watched him he’s done something.

“It’s not always been over the course of the game, but he’s always had moments and he’s scored a couple of goals.

“I’ve mentioned before that we gave him the pro contract and he’s got something about him that’s very likeable as well as some quality on the pitch.

“That might be someone [who could come into my thoughts]. He’ll play for the U23s today but he’s not off the radar that’s for sure.”


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BcarefulwhatUWish4 added 13:35 - Oct 1
Shouldn't we be trying to contact them rather than the other way round?
13

peteswindon added 13:47 - Oct 1
Lets hope there are a few out of contract managers contacting us as well, so we can get this clown out of our club and start rebuilding our once proud and great club.
-6

BigHibbs added 13:48 - Oct 1
At a glance
Lacina Traore, victor anichebe, Darren Bent or Gabriel Agbonlahor could for a job
3

rozeeboy added 13:51 - Oct 1
Start at the top with Samir Nasri and work your way down? Or is it not that simple.

https://www.transfermarkt.com/spieler/vertragslosespieler/statistik/1/plus//gale
2

ShropshireBluenago09 added 13:56 - Oct 1
Would prefer Lankester than any of those lot
4

Suffolkboy added 13:56 - Oct 1
Is this man certain about anything ?-- even up to date detail about our own players appears beyond his grasp ! Even prising a round up of in house possibilities from him becomes a long winded affair .
Can't imagine what actually managing , selecting .deciding on teams and systems ,let alone tactics does to his brain !!
Are we expecting too much , have we bought a pup ?? -- or am I isolated in hoping for much much better from PH (&CD ) as the ' leader ' ?
Come on the Blues !
13

BaddowBlue1 added 13:59 - Oct 1
Hopefully the club will have learnt from the Leon Best saga and not be held to ransom on wages and subsequent "cant be bothered because I still get paid" attitude. I would rather we played one of our youngsters, Scrowcroft had to replace Ian Marshall back in '96 and went on to do well for us. Burley picked up Gerry Craney at the time to help add some experience for a month but Scowy developed quicker as he got games and set up plenty of goals.
4

Skip73 added 14:07 - Oct 1
Just go you muppet and take your crap players with you.
-9

Henrietta_R_Hippo added 14:21 - Oct 1
@Bcarefull

Hmmm think you are actually on to something truly Sherlockian there LOL!

HOWEVER by the the sound of it, where Hurst 'is from'... apparently it's perfectly "normal" that you JUST pull on your Wellingtons + fetch your inflatable kayak! whenever you have a leaking pipe... and then proceed to simply sit/kayak around waiting for the word (of your 'pipe problem') spreading around town.... so that the plumbers call you rather than the other way around!

PS: Oh and this way it saves you around a WHOLE £ in dials-up on your lousy *prepaid* Lebara -like mobil phone card too! :-) :-)
1

TimmyH added 14:21 - Oct 1
hahaha - waiting for calls!?! Well they'll be quality then - not
2

Jonnosdreadlocks added 14:34 - Oct 1
Agbonlahor, big target man, lots of premier league goals, only 31. Worth offering a 3 month pay per play deal maybe or some short term deal initially? Bent seems happy doing media work but we need strikers. Ridiculous that Morris cant be recalled until January.
2

Lightningboy added 14:49 - Oct 1
Isn't there a list of out of contract players?...i'm sure I saw one last week but it's not me that should be looking.

He's not exactly filling me with confidence or inspiration.
6

leftie1972 added 14:49 - Oct 1
There's some bloke called dimi berbatov as well. he might score a few.
0

Currie10 added 15:08 - Oct 1
' Agbonlahor, big target man '

Good job you're not a scout!

4

mickeyjb added 15:16 - Oct 1
Surely we can not be relying for The lad from Sutton to Bale is out after all his stats there aren't that enthralling!!!

Up sh1t creak without a paddle
0

rugbytomc added 15:19 - Oct 1
BaddowBlue1 great memory shout! However in this case, I think in losing Walters and Harrison the type of player we've lost is a target man. Drinan seems to be the only youngster who could fit that description but a) not sure he's really shown he's ready and b) who know what style Hurst is going to play game to game - Harrison wasn't getting a regular run of games so unlikely anyone replacing him (youngster or otherwise) would get that run of games unfortunately
1

ShropshireBluenago09 added 15:55 - Oct 1
Abonglahor - overweight overpaid and over the hill
7

BaddowBlue1 added 16:29 - Oct 1
rugbytomc totally agree with you. Chances are we will pick up another one that is probably carrying/hiding an injury or Harrison will be fit by the time the free agent is "up to speed". I fear that Harrison is out for the season, that isn't something I have heard, just don't like the sound of the injury.
0

TimmyH added 16:34 - Oct 1
Abonglahor - and wrong attitude
1

therein61 added 17:24 - Oct 1
Ray Crawfords a free agent.
1

Dissboyitfc added 17:49 - Oct 1
Play the youngsters, he says Lankester has impressed but only in spells and not for the whole games, well i say this how many of our players have? and more to the point the loanees arent doing it for the whole game either! take Chalohah for instance, awesome one minute and a complete liabillity the next!

worrying times! I would prefer to play our own players instead of loanees, just think if we go down we wont even hit the ground running as we will be giving half of them back!
4

Ipswichbusiness added 18:25 - Oct 1
Looking at those on the list they are "free" for a reason; too old, too fragile, too expensive (wages), too ill-disciplined, too rubbish, etc.

Let's play some of our youngsters.
2

ihatecanaries added 18:25 - Oct 1
We should try and resign the legend Balint Bajner or failing that Conor Sammon
0

jas0999 added 18:57 - Oct 1
It gets worse. I dread to think what low quality addition is desperate to sign for us so they get a pay cheque.
3

jackson added 20:14 - Oct 1
Ten games - 6 points - no wins = Hurst is an abject failure. Time for him to do the right thing and RESIGN !!
1


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