Team News: Baah, Andrews & Ogbonna Update

Tom Cleverley expects tomorrow’s clash with Oxford United (Saturday March 15, 3pm KO) to be the last game where Kwadwo Baah is missing, while there are concerns over Ryan Andrews and Angelo Ogbonna.

Baah is among the club’s sidelined players alongside Daniel Bachmann, Pierre Dwomoh, Kévin Keben and Mamadou Doumbia.

He has not played since pulling up with a hamstring injury against Preston North End in January.

“This should be the last game Kwadwo misses,” Cleverley said. “We expect him back in the squad for Plymouth.

“Pierre and Dan we’ll see – they will re-join in training over the next two weeks. I’d expect Dan to also be available and Pierre is maybe a week behind schedule.

“Mamadou and Kévin will be after that, probably into April.”

On the new injury concerns, Cleverley added: “We’re touch and go with Ryan. He’ll be assessed over the next 24 hours.

“He came off in the week with what we thought was muscle cramps, and we need to investigate that today and make a decision overnight.

“Angelo Ogbonna has had a minor medical procedure, a small illness.”

Cleverley also confirmed that Vakoun Bayo has returned to a normal training schedule after he started the midweek win over Swansea City from the bench, following the birth of his daughter that day.

There is also frustration for young forward Amin Nabizada, who will miss the chance to join the England Under-18s squad due to a muscle injury which is predicted to sideline him for three weeks.

“We’re all really proud of Amin getting his call-up, so that’s disappointing for him,” Cleverley said.

The Head Coach admitted that the number of absentees could mean plenty of youngsters on the bench at Oxford.

“It’s something I’ve not complained about all season but it’s the first time we can generally say ‘we’re thin,’” he said.

“There will be at least four teenagers, maybe five, on the bench tomorrow.

“It’s a time when it can really bring a togetherness to a squad. Rather than an excuse, it can be a ‘right, we’re up against it, we all need to roll our sleeves up a little bit more’.

“It’s a real tight-knit mentality and that’s what we need to take into tomorrow.”