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Danny Butterworth set for Swindon Town return as injury list grows
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
Midfielder Danny Butterworth is expected to make his first start in nearly a year as Swindon Town shuffle the pack for their latest cup fixture.
Swindon Town manager Ian Holloway is set to ring the changes for the upcoming Vertu Trophy match against Crystal Palace under-21s, with midfielder Danny Butterworth in line to make his first start in 350 days. The 26-year-old, who has been sidelined since suffering a significant hamstring rupture in October of last year, is expected to feature as part of a heavily rotated squad.
The fixture provides an opportunity for several players to regain match fitness as the club looks to balance the workload of those who have featured heavily in the early part of the season. Joining Butterworth in the starting line-up will likely be Paul Glatzel, Joseph Hungbo, Jaylan Pearman, Tom Nichols, Sam Inwood, and James Debayo. Both Pearman and Nichols are set to return to the side following the recent defeat to York City.
However, the match comes too early for defender Ryan Tafazolli, who remains sidelined but could be in contention for the weekend trip to face Salford City. The injury situation at the County Ground remains a significant concern for the management team. Louis Millard and Matty Virtue are expected to be absent for at least another fortnight, though Virtue has shown signs of progress by returning to training this week.
The club has faced a testing season regarding player availability, with Millard becoming the 20th player to miss time through injury since July. The ongoing challenges include a lengthy list of long-term absentees. Beyond the current injury concerns, manager Ian Holloway has indicated that striker Ollie Palmer is facing a potentially serious issue after attempting to play through pain during the recent clash against Port Vale.
As Swindon prepares for the cup tie, the list of those unavailable remains extensive. Joining the aforementioned players on the sidelines are Ollie Clarke, Joel McGregor, Harry Smith, Fletcher Holman, and Gavin Kilkenny. While the focus remains on navigating these tactical changes, the club will be hoping that the rotation allows for a positive performance while protecting the health of the core squad for the remainder of the league campaign.
Source: Swindon Advertiser - Lifestyle · View original