Blackpool captain Jay Spearing back in contention

Posted Thursday, February 21, 2019 by PA

Blackpool captain Jay Spearing and fellow midfielder Jordan Thompson are both in contention for places in the Sky Bet League One clash with Oxford at Bloomfield Road.

Spearing has recovered from a knee injury that has seen him miss the last three matches since coming off early in a 2-2 draw at home to Wycombe on January 29, while Thompson is fit again after missing last Saturday’s goalless draw at Charlton through illness.

Striker Chris Long is also available after limping off with cramp just before the hour mark at The Valley.

The treatment room remains busy, however, with Marc Bola, Matty Virtue and Callum Guy fighting to be fit, while Myles Boney, Jimmy Ryan and Max Clayton are long-term injured.

Relegation-threatened Oxford will be without midfielder Cameron Brannagan, who starts a two-match suspension for collecting 10 yellow cards this season.

Striker Gavin Whyte will miss a second successive match with a head injury sustained in Saturday’s 1-0 home defeat to Peterborough.

Fellow forward Jamie Mackie and midfielder Marcus Browne are both doubtful after sustaining hamstring injuries in Tuesday’s 4-2 loss at Accrington, stretching the club’s winless run to five games.

Two other forwards in Rob Hall and Jon Obika, along with midfielders Malachi Napa and Shandon Baptiste, remain on the injured list.