📈 Baldock anticipating positive fortnight away from action

Striker on the international hiatus and coming back stronger

We all enjoyed the winning run; we’ve all suffered with our recent defeats. But after our loss to Stoke, the international break means a fortnight without any opportunity to set the record straight.

But as far as Sam Baldock is concerned, that’s a good thing – a chance to get back to Bearwood and keep evolving, and being ready for Bournemouth when football restarts.

“Usually you don’t have any time to dwell on it, which you tend to think is a good thing because you can get straight back at it,” Sam said. “But that hasn’t worked in the previous two games so maybe this break will do us well.

“I’m sure the manager will love to have more time on the training pitch, and his staff will love to have a few more meetings. They really enjoy football and they like to teach us new things. So I think it’s going to be a positive two weeks – get back to where we were, hopefully progress and come back stronger.”

Baldock’s energetic substitute appearances against Preston and Stoke were his first league involvement since the opening day of the season against Derby.

A small injury ended up ruling him out of a stretch of game in our jam-packed schedule… but now that he is fit again, Baldock is keen to stake his claim again and give the manager food for thought during their time on the training pitch.

“I was involved up until I got a niggle on the eve of the Middlesbrough game, and I ended up missing two weeks – which was five games,” he explained.

“So I’ve heard a lot of people saying ‘good to have you back’ – it’s been two weeks! But that’s the way this season is going to be. Hopefully I can stay fit, but I’m feeling good.

“No player can ever take anything for granted… there are so many talented players here. If I get the opportunity to come on the pitch, I’m going to give it my all. I’m going to work hard over the next two weeks and hopefully give the manager a positive headache.”