MANAGER Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has confirmed that striker Kane Hemmings will miss tomorrow’s opening EFL Sky Bet League One fixture against Shrewsbury Town.
Hasselbaink told the media at today’s press conference that Hemmings will miss the next three weeks through a hamstring injury sustained in last Friday’s pre-season friendly against Newcastle united.
The news comes just one week after it was revealed that summer signing Louis Moult will miss up to five months through an ankle injury. Hasselbaink admitted that he may now need to add to his striking options, but there will be no new faces joining his side ahead of tomorrow’s game.
Hasselbaink said: “Kane will be back eventually; Louis Moult will be back eventually. So, we need to bring in somebody that is going to add something. We have a few options of what we are going to do, but it happens in football that people get injured, and tomorrow is an opportunity for somebody else to make headlines.”
Despite several players carrying knocks in the side, Hasselbaink is still pleased with where his side are at heading into the game at Montgomery Waters Meadow.
“We are ready as we can be and I’m happy with where the group is at. We have got a few injuries but that happens – we can’t dwell on that, said Hasselbaink.
“We feel good and hopefully we have done enough (in pre-season), but tomorrow will tell us where we’re at organisation-wise, tactical-wise and planning-wise.
“They’re not friendly games anymore where you can tolerate mistakes – mistakes are going to be punished. We want to eliminate mistakes as much as possible and force them on the opponent.”
Hasselbaink was keen to stress how much he is looking forward to seeing football supporters back in stadiums, 17 months after the Brewers’ last competitive fixture in front of supporters in March 2020.
“I’m excited and I’m ready to go. I’m excited that the fans are back and it’s hopefully back to more normality with a good atmosphere.
“Football is all about the fans and we can’t wait to see them again for a proper league game.”