Mark Robins is looking to science to try to help Sam Gallagher after the devastated Stoke City striker was ruled out a third time this season.
Gallagher will miss the next few weeks after picking up a new hamstring injury last weekend when he made his first start since suffering a different hamstring problem in October. That game had been only his second start following a calf injury sustained in pre-season.
The 29-year-old took a whack on the head in a challenge moments before he suffered this latest injury and new manager Robins is left exploring the mechanics of his movement to try to get to the bottom of the situation and keep him fit.
“Sam will be out for a few weeks,” said Robins, who is taking Stoke for an FA Cup third round tie at Sunderland tomorrow (3pm). “He picked up a hamstring problem in the second half.
“It’s terrible (for Gallagher) because I think Sam can be anything he wants but it’s a circumstance and situation when he’s picked up an injury and I have to look at that and work out how I can use him in the future without exposing him in an explosive game to too much explosive activity.
“I’ve got to look at how we can use him in games differently, slightly differently, and I think we can work together to maximise his time on the pitch because it’s been really stop-start.
“He is devastated, there’s no doubt about it. He’s a really powerful athlete and sometimes you look at him and think he’s too powerful for those explosive movements, it’s damaging the muscle because he’s so powerful.
“I’ve got to look at it, I really have got to look at it and I am. I’ve got some thoughts on it and I just want people who understand and know about those movements. In my head as a football manager I’m looking and thinking how I can use him in a different way? That, for me, is clear I can use him in a different way – but I want to know what the mechanics are and all of those things.
“You (can’t just say it’s bad luck, we) have to look at the science of it and see if we can get some information which will help because ultimately we’ve got to help Sam, he’s out player. I really like him. I think he’s got so many really good attributes but the one things we’ve not been able to do at the moment is keep him on the pitch. I will look at it and make sure and endeavour we do everything we can to try to make that happen.”
Ben Pearson is joining in full training for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury last April that ultimately required off-season surgery. The 30-year-old midfielder could get some game time for the under-21s next week against Manchester City.
Bosun Lawal could do with some minutes too as he returns from a stress fracture in his lower back but Stoke’s tight first team squad might force their hand.
Robins said: “Ben’s been on the grass (on Thursday) and the other day and Bosun is training with us, he’s just not played enough minutes. Ben is very similar, he’s been out for the best part of the year.
“We’ll have to wait and see if he can play for the under-21s (next week against Man City). If the game is on the Friday, I haven’t got a big squad so if I’ve got 20 players, they’re going to have to try to get fit by being within that. It isn’t ideal, it really isn’t ideal, but we’ve got what we’ve got and I’ll try to make the best of it that we can.”
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