:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/23028667/165185309.0.jpg)
"Neither is serious, but I felt it was right to bring Joe back. Hopefully, though, the loan move could be completed in a week or so. It’s simply a case of being certain exactly how Rudy and Peter are."
Malky Mackay
Joe Mason, who featured against the Wanderers last season, is yet to make his first Premier league appearance this campaign and will head back to South Wales for the next week. It’s been rumoured that Mason will return to the Reebok once Mackay's strike force regains full fitness. The current emergency loan window runs until the 28th November and Mackay said:
"I talked to Dougie and apologised to him. He understands that we have a couple of minor injuries and just want those checked out.’
This season Dougie Freedman has predominately played with 4-5-1 putting the emphasis on a solid midfield and defence. Take into account that the 3 senior strikers at the club (Jermaine Beckford,Craig Davies and David Ngog) are all expecting game time. The system we have now only gives limited opportunities for the front men, why bring in more? Mason is a young and hungry striker who needs time on the pitch. I’m not sure that Freedman is able to provide him with that. Beckford is on form at the moment and Craig Davies is returning from injury, surely they’d need to take priority.
In addition to the 3 recognised forwards we’ve got some exciting youth players at the club who deserve a chance. Academy graduate Samni Odeluisi impressed in the cup against Shrewsbury and is be more than deserving of some senior game time, as is Connor Wilkinson. He is currently on loan at Chester in the conference, but he’s done more than enough to deserve a call up after scoring on a regular basis for the u21’s (including 4 against Blackpool in the cup!) I’m not against Mason joining on loan, I’ve actually heard very exciting things about him. I just think that there are other internal options for Freedman.
Mason may return before the emergency loan window closes, he may not, but we do have a reaming loan spot at the moment. We should look to add to different areas of the squad. After Saturday’s game against Millwall loanee left back Kevin McNaughton picked up a knock and could be side-lined for weeks, surely that takes priority.