Break at the right time?

Defeat against Blackburn at the weekend, a defeat that leaves us rooted to the foot of the table, was hardly ideal preparations going into the international break but with injuries 'seemingly' building up perhaps this is not a bad thing that we have a break?

Hassan Yebda was a surprise omission from the squad at the weekend, there was no hint of an injury but it was later revealed that he has picked up a calf muscle injury, and this could keep him out for a while? At least this international break gives him a bit of time to rest.

I was somewhat surprised to see Aruna Dindane come off just after half time but he too seems to have a slight problem, this time with his hamstring? If this will keep him out of the Ivory Coast squad is not yet known...

And of course Steve Finnan has his groin problem, which he picked up against Wigan, and this kept him out of the Blackburn game. He took a long while whole to recover from his hamstring injury picked up in the summer, we just have to hope that this is not 'too bad' and he can use this time to fully recover.

David James was apparently left out of the England squad to help him with some 'niggling injuries' he has, which could cost him a world cup place as it is thought that he cannot train for a couple of days after a game, and that could see him miss out if he cannot prove his fitness - perhaps a couple of weeks rest will help him?

We missed Yebda against Blackburn, that was fairly obvious, and I think Finnan's natural ability as a right back was also missed, even if Anthony Vanden Borre did offer a fairly decent attacking threat, defensively he is pretty poor though to be honest and seems to lack a general awareness of what is going on around him - not really good for a defender is it...

A break, and time for these players to rest up could do them good, as could having a couple of weeks to reflect on this defeat - beware of the wounded animal and all that! On the other hand we could reflect in a negative way and fester too much on this, so we have to make sure that we also use this time in a positive way.

PLAY UP POMPEY!

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