'Ballet injury' hits Tom Bradshaw's hopes at Walsall
Walsall top scorer Tom Bradshaw could face former club Shrewsbury Town tomorrow despite being diagnosed with a "ballet dancing" type hamstring injury.
A scan has revealed a slight tear in the 22-year-old's right hamstring but not in the main muscle usually associated with football injuries. Instead, it is the kind of problem more regularly experienced by those in the English National Ballet.
And that led Saddlers boss Dean Smith to quip: "I've not seen Tom in Strictly!"
He added: "He has a slight tear of the hamstring, it is a bit of a weird one because it is not the normal muscle of the hamstring you would get.
"From what I have been told, it's a ballet dancer's injury. He won't thank me for telling you that!
"He did it after 22 minutes of the game last Wednesday against Sheffield United and played the next 23 minutes.
"It is frustrating. It is not the main muscle of the hamstring which stops you from running. If it is that you stop and pull up straight away, that is why he got through. We will treat him and assess him and hopefully he is not out for too long."
The injury kept Bradshaw out of Saturday's 0-0 home draw with Peterborough United, a result which extended the Saddlers unbeaten run to five games but left them frustrated at not taking more from the game.
Next up is the FA Cup first round replay with the Shrews and Smith is, at this stage, refusing to rule Bradshaw out.
"We are not at all sure whether Tom will be ready for Tuesday," he added.
Smith also allayed any fears over the fitness Sam Mantom, who did not feature against Posh, dropping a big hint he could get his first start of this campaign in the cup tomorrow.
"I would not say I was preparing him but it gives me the opportunity to do that," added Smith.
"Hopefully he will get a starting place."
