Crawley Town boss explains why Akin Odimayo injury is a huge blow
Colin Kazim-Richards has lamented losing one of his ‘most influential players’ to serious injury.
Akin Odimayo was stretchered off in the 2-2 draw against Chesterfield and ahead of the Salford game, the Reds boss gave an update on the defender.
The 26-year-old had just cemented his place at centre-back and this injury has come as a huge blow for him and the team.
"Yeah, it's not a great injury,” said Kazim-Richards. “He's had an operation yesterday. He's come through that good, healthy. It's a sad one because he's a top pro and I know he's been one of our most influential players in terms of, at the start, playing in various positions and then cementing his position at centre-back and being very pivotal in defending, being brave on the ball, being the character that we needed, being the reassurance that we needed as well
"In training, he drives standards and is a top trainer. We wish him all the best health and anything he needs, we'll be there for him.”
Reds are at the bottom of League Two after just one win in eight. The performances, at times, have not reflected the results, but their luck with injuries certainly have.
People always say when you are at the bottom, things don’t go your ways and that has certainly been the case for Crawley.
In the first game of the season, Vito Mannone and Stephen Duke-McKenna picked up serious knocks and Malcolm Ebiowei and Kellan Gordon both got red cards (they certainly can’t be put down to bad luck) and Kai Jennings got injured in his first game.
And then just as things start to look settled after the International break, Odimayo picks up his injury.
"It's really just the timing,” lamented the Reds boss. “You've got to remember, the first game we had two injuries with Vito [Mannone] and Duke, right? But what made it a little bit worse was, everyone speaking about injuries, it was the two red cards as well. They were out for three weeks as well. (o it feels like an injury, right? But really, it's a suspension.
“And then Kai [Jennings] comes back after being with us for only a week and then picking up an injury, which obviously is not down to our work. And it's lovely to have them all back, it is.”
But he about Odimayo’s injury, he said: “ AK, for me, is a big one. I think we're just starting to to find the best kind of selection.
“I thought we kind of found that down the middle and then, bang, I'm more devastated for him. I've been there, I've been a pro, I've been in situations where your contract's running down and stuff like that. So more the human side, I feel for him.
“He's a top guy, he's a top pro, believe me, and he was one of them guys that just got on with his job and was a show-me-don't-tell-me type of player, right, character. So I'm really, in that aspect, upset for him.”
And Kazim-Richards added: “But football's really, how can I put it without using a bad word? fFotball at times, you've got no love, the game moves on. So whatever's happening to you, as a manager, I've got to think about the team now, right? And he'll always be on my thoughts.
"So the timing wasn't great, it never is great, but especially now after that, we're just starting to get a little bit of rhythm, momentum, and then that happens. But this is a chance for whoever it is that comes in to come and cement their place, or there's opportunity out for grabs, you have to go and earn the shirt now, there's that extra space.”