Fiorentina vs TNS injury news as 11 out of UEFA Conference League clash
BRIDGEND, WALES. - 20TH SEPTEMBER 2024: Jordan Williams of TNS during the warm up. Penybont v The New Saints in the JD Cymru Premier at the SDM Glass Stadium on the 20th September 2024. (Pic by Lewis Mitchell/FAW)
Wales’ first ever European group stage representatives TNS face Italian giants and back-to-back losing finalists of the competition Fiorentina away in Italy in the UEFA Conference League on Thursday.
TNS responded well to their first back-to-back league defeats since 2019 at the hands of Penybont and Bala with a 6-1 demolition of Newtown on Friday. Despite the downturn in recent form, they still have the league in their control, should they win their games in hand.
Fiorentina have had an interesting start to their season by their standards, with their Serie A record comprising of 1 win, four draws and one defeat. As well as this, they only qualified for the Conference League on penalties against Hungarian minnows Puskas Akademia, following a 3-3 and 1-1 draw at home and away.
TNS have a very busy schedule in the next few weeks, whereas Fiorentina only have a game on Sunday vs AC Milan before two weeks off for the international break. Here’s the latest injury and team news ahead of an historic night for the Welsh champions.
Embed from Getty ImagesFiorentina team news
Owing to a combination of suspensions and an injury, Fiorentina find themselves without four of their main centre-backs.
In the chaotic second leg against Puskás, Luca Ranieri received a second yellow in the fourth minute of additional time. He was followed shortly by Pietro Comuzzo in the 97th minute during extra time who also got his second yellow of the game for a foul.
In the aftermath of this, Argentinian international Lucas Martinez Quarta got a straight red for his reaction, however by this point the centre-back was on the bench after being subbed earlier on in the match. The final defender who is unavailable for La Viola is Marin Pongracic, owing to muscle fatigue according to TransferMarkt.
Elsewhere, attacking midfielder Abdelhamid Sabiri as well as goalkeeper Oliver Christensen are unregistered in the competition.
Out: Ranieri (suspended), Comuzzo (suspended), Quarta (suspended), Pongracic, Sabiri (unregistered), Christensen (unregistered)
TNS team news
The away side only have the one suspension to their name, with Jordan Williams still serving his ban after he was sent off for an elbow in the second leg vs Petrocub.
There are three apparent injuries for TNS, with Harrison McGahey another absentee, having subbed off against Flint Town United in the League Cup on August 2. One-time USA international Matthew Olosunde is seemingly another absentee, having only managed a brief stint against Aberystwyth on September 3.
Ash Baker is the final player on the injury list, with the winger/ full-back having last played in the Cymru Premier against Flint Town United, providing an assist on August 16th and was an unused substitute for both legs against Panevezys in the following weeks before being sidelined by injury.
Manager Craig Harrison said that Baker was back in training two weeks ago before the game against Barry. However, he is still yet to feature.
Centre-back Ryan Astles is also unavailable for selection having not been registered in TNS’ UEFA Conference League squad. The 30-year-old hasn’t played for TNS since coming off in the 23rd minute against Penybont in December 2023.
There is some positive news for the Welsh side in that Ryan Brobbel and Declan McManus returned for 15 minutes in Friday’s win vs Newtown, with both recovering from injury.
Both players linked up well in their short cameo, with Brobbel assisting a McManus goal after only six minutes on the pitch together. They may be unlikely to start as they make their comeback from injury, but they could come off the bench.
Out: J Williams (suspended), Olosunde, McGahey, Baker, Astles (unregistered)
(Featured Image: Lewis Mitchell/FAW)
