Jack Ross expects both Papy Djilobodji and Didier Ndong to leave SAFC before the closure of international transfer deadline, but is hoping that he can hang onto Bryan Oviedo and Lee Cattermole. Ross said: “There are things going on, and they’re more to do with outs to be honest. I’ve spoken often enough about the situation with Djilobodji and Ndong, and their absence from training for the whole of the summer, and it’s in the best interests of all parties that the situation is resolved. That’s taken up a huge amount of work, although not for me. It’s been a lot of frustrating work at times, but over the next 36 hours, I’d be very hopeful that we will bring a resolution to that. That (Djilobodji and Ndong leaving) might allow us to look at adding one, but I won’t be overly concerned if we’re not able to do that. We’ve been ticking games off with the players out injured, and we’re starting to get them back now.”
On the injury front, Charlie Wyke and Tom Flanagan are expected to feature against Oxford United. Wyke is expected to start on the bench, but Flanagan could replace Glen Loovens. Ross said: “Glen Loovens is a doubt for the weekend, and so is Adam Matthews. Aiden McGeady and Duncan Watmore are obviously out, and so is Jerome Sinclair. There’s also a couple of other knocks we’re having to have a look at. Charlie and Tom were back on the pitch with us today though, and that’s obviously good news. It’s been a real positive to have them back in the squad.”
Finally, Elliot Embleton has joined Grimsby Town on loan to gain more first team experience. Jack Ross said: “I’ve spoken quite a lot to Elliott because I really like him. Every time he has trained with me, he has got better, but he needs to be playing. I think in hindsight he probably could have done with this over the second half of last season, being out on loan and coming back in having played first-team games. I think it will be good for him, and it will just be until January in the first instance. It lets him get games at a senior level, and then we can assess it from there.”
