McKenna: Enciso, Hutchinson and Phillips OK, Szmodics and Tuanzebe Undergo Surgery
Friday, 14th Mar 2025 14:50
Town boss Kieran McKenna says Julio Enciso, Omari Hutchinson and Kalvin Phillips came through last week’s game at Crystal Palace without any issues having made their returns from injury, while Sammie Szmodics and Axel Tuanzebe have undergone surgery this week.
Paraguay international Enciso, who is on loan from Brighton, was out with a knee problem, as was Hutchinson, who came on as a sub at Selhurst Park, and Phillips, on loan from Manchester City, had been sidelined with a calf issue.
“They all came through OK, so that’s a positive,” McKenna said. “I don’t think there’s anything new, so it’s been a better week from that perspective.
“Sam Szmodics had his surgery, which I think has been published anyway, Conor Chaplin’s not training with the group yet, he’s had to take another slightly different course of treatment, but will hopefully be back after the international break. Other than that, I think the squad is as was.”
Regarding Tuanzebe, who suffered a hamstring injury in the FA Cup tie at Nottingham Forest earlier this month and used the opportunity to have an op on the freak hand injury he suffered in October, McKenna added: “He’s OK, he had a pretty big surgery, an incredible injury that he’s been through with this thumb.
“It was a pretty big surgery and a pretty big recovery process that he’s now in, but he’s had a few days in hospital and he’s now back in and around the building and starting to work on his conditioning.
“\[How long he’ll be out for\] is undetermined at the moment. It’s not a matter of months, hopefully it’s a matter of weeks. Hopefully we’ll see him after the international break, we will see him after the international break, exactly which game in which week, we’re not exactly sure yet.”
Keeper Aro Muric could go away with Kosovo during the international break which follows this Saturday’s home game against Forest.
“He’s not training with the group,” the Blues boss continued. “He’s had the injection on a problem in his shoulder that he’s been managing over the last good period of time.
“He’s not trained yet, I think he’s going to start some work tomorrow with the goalkeeper coaches, hopefully he’ll be available to go away with Kosovo if he can get through the one or two bits over the next two days. It will be good to go away and get some game time.”
McKenna says there should be no concerns regarding Jens Cajuste being left out of the Sweden squad with the midfielder having spoken with manager Jon Dahl Tomasson regarding being left out to concentrate on playing for the Blues.
“It’s not been a club involvement, I think Jens has had a conversation with the national team manager there and he’s not going with the national team this time,” McKenna said.
“It’s not a club demand on medical grounds, it’s known we manage him and he’s managed himself really well through the year, but he’s in a great position now with his physical condition and we haven’t got too many concerns there.
“He’s not going with Sweden this time, so from our point of view it’s a good chance for him to get some rest and recovery and hopefully be ready for the run-in.”
_Photo: Matchday Images_
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