Hirst Back in the Squad For Blackburn Clash
Friday, 16th Jan 2026 14:58

Blues striker George Hirst has trained all week and will be in the squad for tomorrow’s home game against his former loan side Blackburn Rovers.

Hirst suffered a groin injury in the home game against one of his other previous clubs, Sheffield Wednesday, just before Christmas.

“He’s available, he’s trained all week,” manager Kieran McKenna said. “A big boost, he always is, he’s an important part of the squad. He’ll be with us tomorrow.”

The Blues boss says availability remains strong across the rest of his squad.

“We’ve had one or two little bits over the course of the week,” he added. “But in general we’re going to arrive in a really good position with, there or thereabouts, at least two players competing for each position and training well. We’re looking forward to the games coming up.”

Left-back Conor Townsend, who suffered an ACL injury in pre-season, is the only player currently sidelined.

Photo: Matchday Images

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dirtydingusmagee added 15:07 - Jan 16 well i hope its a better Hirst, he has not exactly shone this season .Perhaps competition for a place will shake him up .
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BlueMoolay added 15:22 - Jan 16 Come on Hirsty....show us what you've got and shut up the haters.!!
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carsey added 15:26 - Jan 16 Glad to see him back, hopefully with no after effects. We still need another striker to help him out or McKenna needs to go two up front to make better use of Akpom Szmoidics and Azon.
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jas0999 added 16:05 - Jan 16 The best striker at the club. But we do need another one
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Bazza8564 added 16:10 - Jan 16 Pleased to see this, but we still need someone who will bang in 10 goals this season, we just don't have it
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Linkboy13 added 16:21 - Jan 16 Problem with Hirst he can never stay fit for any period of time.
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Marinersnose added 16:59 - Jan 16 We need him fit as for me Azon is not at the required level and Akpom has struggled with his form. Hirst may not be a prolific goal scorer but he still causes problems at this level. Fitness is a huge worry and his touch appears to have deteriorated this season. Welcome back for the big push
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vinceg added 17:23 - Jan 16 Very few players go a whole season without some sort of little niggle that means they miss the odd game or two. Give him a break
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AJW1971 added 17:25 - Jan 16 Best striker at the club, but he sets a low bar
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Wickets added 17:30 - Jan 16 So according to the experts on this thread Hirst , Azon and Akpom have not been good enough so how the hell are to in the race for automatic promotion !
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dirtydingusmagee added 17:39 - Jan 16

Jas he may well be the best striker at the club. My pointis he hasnt been good enough this season, A lot was said in the summer bigging him up,saying he would fire us into the prem.He ha not lived up to it,missing a lot of chances.I hope when he comes back he hits better form ,and we do need another striker.And Bluemooly its not hating at all just my opinion of his form thos season .

shortmarine1969 added 17:40 - Jan 16 I like Hurst and he puts a shift in every game , and clearly used to bring players in, but for our main striker/ goal threat, not good enough for me, but unlikely we will get better, hope he steps up a bit, and then if we do go up, not good enough for Prem.!.
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oldelsworthyfan added 17:53 - Jan 16 Re Hirst knockers, how many league goes in 12 appearances has Liam Delap scored this season. Answer 1. Effective defensive systems have isolated strikers. Goals are coming from other players. We are not alone. Please get behind Hirst, he's an honest, hard working centre forward and the best we've got.
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armchaircritic59 added 18:12 - Jan 16

Hopefully GH will come back refreshed and ready to go, and rediscover his old form. If so, he's still a very useful asset. At his best, there's no one else up top at the moment who can hold the ball up and bring others into play like he can. Chipping in with a few goals too would be very useful. He's never been prolific as we know, but a few goals between now and seasons end could make a big difference.