Seasiders hit by a string of absences for Stockport trip
Blackpool will travel to Stockport for their first League One away game of the season with a truncated squad after a run of injuries and illness left several players unavailable.
The Seasiders go into the match looking to build on a 1-1 home draw with Wycombe Wanderers last weekend, when substitute Finley Munroe marked his Blackpool debut from the bench by scoring to level the game. The club have also struggled for results against this afternoon’s opponents in recent seasons — Stockport have won all four meetings since their return to the third tier.
Manager Ian Evatt faces selection headaches with multiple players sidelined. The club’s published squad news names at least five players who will not be involved.
- Jordan Brown — forced off during the Wycombe draw by illness and spent time in hospital; now reported to be on the mend but undergoing further tests before he can return to full load.
- Niall Ennis — ruled out with a hamstring injury and expected to be sidelined for around three to four weeks. The issue was first flagged against Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup.
- Dale Taylor — also missing at the start of the season with a hamstring problem; his recovery is expected to take slightly longer than Ennis’s.
- Ilmari Niskanen — suffered a shoulder injury on his competitive debut for the club at Grimsby, leaving the Finland international’s afternoon to end early. The report says the situation is not as bad as first feared and he could be available as soon as next weekend.
- Fraser Horsfall — continuing his comeback from ankle surgery but has suffered complications in his recovery; no return date has been given.
Those absences cut across midfield, attack and defence, forcing Evatt to alter plans for his starting XI and bench. The limited options will test Blackpool’s squad depth at a point in the season when early points matter.
| Player | Problem | Expected return |
|---|---|---|
| Jordan Brown | Illness; required hospital checks | Undergoing further tests before ramping up load |
| Niall Ennis | Hamstring injury | 3–4 weeks |
| Dale Taylor | Hamstring injury | Longer than Ennis (no exact date) |
| Ilmari Niskanen | Shoulder injury (debut cut short) | Could be available next weekend |
| Fraser Horsfall | Recovery complications from ankle surgery | Unclear |
Blackpool’s immediate aim is clear: take three points on the road to kick-start the campaign. The draw with Wycombe offered some encouragement — Munroe’s goal provided proof that the squad can change a game from the bench — but the loss of several regulars leaves the manager having to redraw his plans.
There are knock-on effects beyond one match. Prolonged absences for players such as Ennis and Taylor will limit Evatt’s options over the coming weeks and increase reliance on squad players and younger faces. The uncertain recovery timeline for Horsfall and the caution around Brown’s post-hospital return add to the selection puzzle.
For Blackpool supporters, the fixtures against familiar third-tier rivals are a test of the squad’s resilience. Stockport’s recent dominance in the pairings will weigh on the club’s mind, but League One is a long season and early adversity can be navigated with smart rotation and some luck on the injury front.
The club have not issued further detail on any additions to the team’s medical bulletin. With the next scheduled match possibly seeing the return of Niskanen, supporters will be watching closely for confirmation of who is fit to return and how Evatt plans to line up.
Whatever the XI on the day, Blackpool will hope that the current injury list reduces quickly and that those sidelined can rejoin the squad as planned — the squad will need full strength if the Seasiders are to improve on results and challenge higher up the table.
