TEAM NEWS: Schumacher issues updates on Toal and Johnston fitness

Toal picked up the injury against Stockport a fortnight ago and then had to pull out of the Northern Ireland squad during the international break.

In more positive news, George Johnston has been back in training this week after missing the past games matches with a similar hamstring problem.

Ricardo Santos, Kyle Dempsey and Kion Etete returned from injury for the B Team at Everton last weekend, while there were also minutes for Gethin Jones, Jay Matete, Klaidi Lolos and Carlos Mendes Gomes.

Santos and Dempsey were again involved for the B Team against Manchester City on Thursday afternoon as the pair step up their respective recoveries.

“The squad is looking really good,” said Steven Schumacher. “We have had George Johnston back on the training pitch this week which is really pleasing, he’s been nice and sharp. 

“We have had minutes into Rico, Kyle Dempsey and Kion Etete on Sunday at Everton. Kyle and Rico are playing again today in a B Team game at Man City so that’s good.

“Everyone is OK apart from Eoin Toal. He picked up a hamstring problem in the Stockport game.

“He reported for international duty but he has got a hamstring stain, so he will be out for a few weeks we think.”

Dempsey spent a number of months on the sidelines and at one stage was expected to miss the rest of the season.

Schumacher is excited to work with the midfielder but insists that Wanderers cannot afford to rush him back.

“Kyle has had a difficult time, he has been out for a long period of time with a knee injury that we felt that potentially could have needed surgery,” the head coach added.

“But he got different advice and was advised to manage and try to get through the issue without the surgery, which would have ended his season. 

“From my perspective, that was good because he is a really good player. He has been a good player here for a few years and adds some more competition to our squad.

“What we have got to be careful of is that he has been out for four or five months, he has played 45 minutes in the B Team game against Everton. 

“We can’t afford to rush him straight back in and throw him in at the deep end, which I think has been the case at times here with certain players, so we can’t do that. We want to make sure that we manage the risk as best as we can.”