Ilmari Niskanen of Exeter City faces an excruciating decision on whether to have surgery after tests on his shoulder indicated a double break. The 25-year-old has had a terrific start to life at St James Park and has immediately become a fan favourite, although he injured himself during the Huuhkajat’s 1-0 European Championship qualification defeat to Denmark.
City manager Gary Caldwell confirmed City’s worst worries by offering Niskanen the choice of rigorous rehabilitation or surgery, which may keep him out until after Christmas.
“It’s not great news and we are still deciding on what we are going to do,” Caldwell stated. “He can take a conservative approach and try to manage it to get back, or he can have an operation, which has a longer recovery time but a much higher success rate.”
“At the moment, Ilmari is kind of deciding what to do; he is working with Michael (McBride) and the other physios, but he is taking a bit of time to think about how he goes about it,” he continued. There’s a case to be made for him to work for a few weeks and see how things proceed before making a choice, but if it’s a surgery, he’ll be gone for three months.
“My main concern right now is Ilmari and ensuring that he is mentally in the best place possible and that he makes the best decision for his body and his career, and we will support him whatever he decides.”
“I am not bothered when he is back, I am bothered for him to be in the best place possible to get fit and healthy again, but I think we are fortunate that, in the short space of time we have got to know him, we’ve seen he is an amazing character, a positive character and whatever he decides, I think he will push the boundaries of that to be back as quick as he possibly can.”
On the positive side, Vincent Harper and Harry Kite are both in contention for tomorrow’s top-of-the-table showdown against Oxford United, and Dion Rankine is making good progress with Chelsea and could be back with the Grecians shortly. However, loan attacker Admiral Muskwe has experienced another setback in his recuperation, as has Cheick Diabate, who is still suffering from a foot problem.
Caldwell also confirmed that Jack Aitchison is recovering from a hernia operation and his absence from the first team had nothing to do with the nasty incident that saw him collide with an advertising board in the Carabao Cup win over Stevenage.
Caldwell also revealed that Jack Aitchison is recovering from a hernia operation and that his absence from the first squad had nothing to do with the ugly incident in the Carabao Cup win over Stevenage.
Caldwell commented on the absences, saying, “Jack is progressing really well; he is not available this week, but may be back in training next week.” Vinny and Kitey have been in full training this week, but Ads is feeling a bit tight in his calf from the work he’s been doing, so he’s missed a few of days where we were expecting to have him exercising, but he’ll be back next week.
