The club have revealed that Blackpool defender Lloyd Jones is out for 2 to 3 months with an ankle injury, leaving Neil McDonald woefully short of defensive options.
Jones, who is on loan from Liverpool, was injured in the last few minutes of the Chesterfield match and now faces a lengthy spell out on the sidelines.
McDonald told the official site: ‘Lloyd’s had scans and it looks like he’s going to be out for a couple of months with his ankle injury. We’ll support him through that and as soon as he’s fit we’ll get him back as quick as we can.’
Adding: ‘We’re all sorry that he’s picked up the injury because he’s been developing and progressing with each game.’
So where does the youngster’s injury leave the Seasiders?
Jones had featured prominently alongside both Tom Aldred and Clark Robertson at centre back and as McDonald said, he was developing with each game.
His injury is sure to be a damaging loss not only because he is a decent defender but because McDonald now has a severe lack of options at the back.
Robertson and Aldred played together on Saturday and looked a good partnership, but if one were to drop out of form or to become injured then that would leave the Tangerines in a lot of trouble.
Charles Dunne has played at centre back before but it is by no means his natural position, though as it stands he is the only one who could come in and cover.
Emmerson Boyce has proved himself in the centre of defence before but that would leave McDonald without a right back.
The only solution is that the manager and chairman have to act in the transfer market to bring in a new centre back, whether that be permanently or on loan.
The Blackpool Gazette revealed that a move had been made to try and bring in former Norwich and Leicester defender Zak Whitbread but that appears to have gone quiet.
Pool cannot afford to lose the momentum they currently have after back to back victories so McDonald has to bring in defensive options, and fast.
