Blackpool boss issues update on Crystal Palace loanee as he reflects on journey of previous youngster he's worked with.mp4
Danny Imray is set to be back in contention for Blackpool in the next few weeks.
Blackpool fullback Danny Imray is set to rejoin his teammates at Squires Gate in the coming weeks.
The 22-year-old made the move to Bloomfield Road on loan from Crystal Palace during the summer, but his time in Tangerine has been disrupted by injury so far.
Since the end of September, the defender has been back with the Eagles undergoing rehabilitation for a knee injury, which brought an end to a run of five consecutive starts - during which time he was able to impress the Seasiders faithful.
Imray’s last game for Blackpool came under Steve Bruce, but he will return to the Fylde Coast with Ian Evatt now at the helm.
The recently-appointed head coach is looking forward to working with the Palace man, and believes he’s got the perfect attributes to be a success in his newly implemented wing-back system.
“I believe he’s coming up for an assessment this week and for me to meet him,” he said.
“I’m excited to work with him because I think his strengths certainly suit what I want to do with the team.
“There’s still a tiny bit of swelling in his knee that we are trying to eradicate. Crystal Palace are aligned on our thought process on when he’s going to get back - we’re hoping that in a couple of weeks he’ll be available for selection.
“He’s a good football player, and physically the type that I like. He’s athletic, he has a change of pace, and he’s dynamic. I think in football speed kills, and he’s got speed. I want us to be fast and front-footed, and I think he’s that type.
“I’m very excited to work with him and looking forward to meeting him to outline our vision of what we want to become for the rest of the season, and his role as part of that.”
Past success with youngsters
Conor Bradley (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)placeholder image
Conor Bradley (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) | Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Evatt is no stranger to working with Premier League youngsters and helping them to develop.
One of the loanees the Seasiders boss worked with during his time with Bolton Wanderers was Conor Bradley - who featured 53 times for the Trotters during the 2022/23 campaign.
The 22-year-old has since gone on to feature on a regular basis for Liverpool, and caught the eye with his performance in the Reds’ 1-0 victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
“I still speak to Conor regularly and what he’s gone on to achieve,” Evatt added.
“It was just an incredible performance. I’m so happy for him because he’s a humble young man with a wonderful family. He came to me with the right attitude and grew, learnt and excelled, and has gone on to be really special. I’m looking forward to seeing what he can achieve throughout the rest of his career.
“One of my strengths as a coach is I build strong relationships. Every single player from when I left Bolton messaged me. Conor, James Trafford, Paris Maghoma are all playing top level football, and I still speak to them on a regular basis. It shows they’ve got a lot of respect for me, and I’ve got a lot of respect for them as well.
“I’m so proud to see them develop and grow in their football journey. That's why I prefer this to playing because watching that game against Madrid was so rewarding for me as a coach.”
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