Adam Forshaw, a former Leeds operator who recently joined the team as a free agent, has only made two league starts since joining the team due to a lack of pre-season training and intensive fitness program. He was absent for the last game against Blackburn after being replaced in the previous away defeat to Sunderland. His fellow holding midfielder Jacob Sorensen has not featured all season due to a pelvic-related issue that required surgical procedure, keeping him out until Christmas or the beginning of the new year according to City head coach David Wagner. Additionally, Adam has a slight hamstring injury and will be out until the beginning of December, leaving the team without two key midfielders. Shane Duffy is also suspended for Saturday’s game against Cardiff, and Ben Gibson is ruled out due to a foot injury. Wagner is considering fast-tracking Grant Hanley into the team after his recent return to training, but he is also considering giving Hanley more development time in the Premier League Cup.
The team is also dealing with injuries to Angus Gunn, Ashley Barnes, and Josh Sargent, who are all sidelined due to muscular, knee, and ankle issues, respectively. This leaves the team shorthanded for their upcoming games. According to Wagner, the prognosis for Forshaw and Sorensen’s injuries is uncertain and will only be fully understood after three to four weeks of recovery and physical therapy. The team will need to make do without these players for the foreseeable future and will have to rely on other players to step up in their absence. The decision to include Hanley in the coming games will depend on his fitness and readiness after returning from injury and the level of importance of the upcoming match.
In light of the injuries, the team is being forced to make adjustments to their lineup for the next few games, with key players such as Forshaw, Sorensen, Duffy, Gibson, Gunn, Barnes, and Sargent all unavailable. This could have a significant impact on the team’s performance and their ability to secure victories in the upcoming matches. The team will have to rely on their depth and the ability of other players to step up and fill the void left by the injured players. The decisions made by the coaching staff about the inclusion of Hanley and other potential replacements will be crucial in determining the team’s success in the near future.
