One of City’s promotion rivals has been dealt a significant late-season blow after losing an in-form attacker to a serious injury.
With the run-in now firmly underway, any disruption can prove costly, and this latest setback could have a real impact on the race at the top end of League One.
Bolton Wanderers have been hit by the loss of Corey Blackett-Taylor, who is expected to spend a period on the sidelines after suffering a thigh injury in their recent clash with Rotherham United. Subsequent scans have confirmed the issue is not minor, with Bolton boss Steven Schumacher admitting the problem is more serious than initially hoped.
“He’s had a scan, unfortunately it’s a serious one,” said Schumacher. “It’s a decent grade, a thigh strain, high up on the tendon, so it’s not going to be a quick fix.”
“I don’t think we’re 100 per cent sure of the time frame yet but it’ll be a little while because he’ll have to go and see his specialist and all that, and go back to Derby and figure out what the plan is.”
There is now real doubt as to whether the 26-year-old will feature again this season, a blow given the impact he had begun to make since arriving.
Blackett-Taylor impact
Blackett-Taylor had quickly found his feet at Bolton, scoring on his debut against Wimbledon and following that up with a decisive contribution in a 3-2 win over Wycombe. His pace and direct running had added a different dimension to Schumacher’s side, particularly in tight matches where moments of quality can prove decisive.
The injury also continues a frustrating pattern for the winger, who has struggled for continuity in recent seasons due to fitness issues. He had already missed a chunk of the campaign earlier in the year before making the move to Bolton in search of regular minutes.
Schumacher acknowledged both the disappointment of losing a player in form and the reality that his physical profile carries inherent risk.
“It’s obviously a big blow because he has made an impact,” said the former Plymouth Argyle. “It was one of them though, he’s that explosive type of player, fast twitch fibres and all that.
“He has an injury history, it’s what’s been tough for him over the years, that’s why he probably hasn’t played as many games as he should have.
“We sort of know that when you’re getting a player like that, and we’ve tried to manage his load, tried to manage his training schedule and all that.
“He didn’t start the week before, came on, made a huge impact and unfortunately it’s one of those things, it is a blow because he’s been good for us.”
For us, it is ‘good’ news as such, as it diminishes Bolton’s chances of taking the points they need to catch us. Of course, Bolton observers will point to Adam Reach coming off and saying the same thing. Still, with just a handful of games remaining, squad depth and availability could yet play a decisive role in shaping the automatic promotion picture.