Chaplin and Szmodics Remain Sidelined, Tuanzebe Could Start Thursday, 23rd Jan 2025 15:46 Conor Chaplin and Sammie Szmodics remain unavailable for Saturday’s trip to Liverpool but with the Blues having no new injury issues. Chaplin has been out for a month with a knee problem, while Szmodics hurt his ankle at Fulham. “I think nothing too drastically different, Sam Szmodics and Conor Chaplin are still going to fall short,” manager Kieran McKenna said when asked about the fitness situation. “Axel [Tuanzebe]’s had some more time with the group [having returned from his hamstring injury as a sub last week], Ben Godfrey's had some more time with the group, which has been useful. “So, more sort of an extra couple of days training with those boys who were just back last week. But other than that, I think the boys who missed out last week are still going to be unavailable.” McKenna says Chaplin hasn’t been entirely ruled out for the Southampton match: “He's not training with the group yet. He's working outside with a rehabilitation coach, so he's certainly not available this weekend. “For next weekend, I would imagine it is doubtful, but we'll have to see how next week goes.” Regarding Szmodics, he added: “He's pretty similar to Conor. He pushed to be available for last week, but wasn't ready and has needed to take a step back now. “So he's with the rehabilitation coach, he’s not training with the group and we'll see how he goes next week.” McKenna says Tuanzebe was in contention to start last week against Manchester City but feels the DR Congo international is now in a better position to come back into the XI. “He's come through well,” the Blues manager continued. “It was a big positive from the day. There was a small debate on starting him because he had trained well a few days before. “But despite how the day went, we are probably glad with that decision because he came through the game well. “He's now had a few days’ good training and he's certainly more ready to start a game than he was last weekend. “I'm sure he'll be ready to start a game soon, so whether that's this Saturday or in one of the games coming up, he's certainly getting much closer to that point.”
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