Eddie Howe has provided formal updates on the availability of Nick Pope, Joe Willock, Jacob Murphy, Jamaal Lascelles, and Emil Krafth since the players returned for pre-season training.
All five missed Saturday’s 3-2 win over Gateshead in our first summer friendly, and Pope appears to be in a race to be fit for our tour of the United States.
Our captain had finger surgery in May and is making “good progress,” but Howe is doubtful if he’ll be available for any of our Summer Series games against Brighton, Chelsea, and Aston Villa, suggesting he won’t be available until the Sela Cup double header.
Willock has not yet trained with the team but is “on track” to return during our stay in America, while Howe anticipates Murphy (shoulder) and Lascelles (tight muscle) to return “very soon.”
Despite making “good progress” after an ACL injury suffered last year, Krafth is unlikely to appear in our preseason schedule. Here’s what the boss had to say about it all:
Howe on Pope – “Nick Pope is doing well. He’s doing light handling now, so he’s made good progress from his finger injury and we hope he’ll back available to play, in and around the America trip, maybe just after.”
Howe on Willock – “Joe is making good progress. He hasn’t trained with us yet but is on track to train with us in America.”
Howe on Murphy – “Jacob has a shoulder injury. We don’t think it’s serious, we hope he’ll be back very soon.”
Howe on Lascelles – “Jamaal has a tight muscle and we hope he’ll be back very soon.”
Howe on Krafth – “Emil’s a little bit further back, so he’s doing well, making good progress, but we don’t anticipate seeing him during pre-season.”
