Ian Evatt has welcomed the international break as an opportunity to get key Blackpool players fit again, suggesting the timing could prove significant for a squad that has been carrying knocks.

Speaking on Radio Lancashire, the Blackpool manager described the pause in the League One schedule as one of those "reset moments" that he considers important across the course of a long season. "Having those reset moments is important," Evatt said, in what sounded less like spin and more like a manager quietly relieved to get a breather.

Injuries beginning to bite

Blackpool have had a demanding run of fixtures and Evatt's comments suggest the treatment room has not been empty. He stopped short of naming specific players, but the implication was clear enough: a fortnight without a competitive match gives the medical staff a window to work with, and gives certain members of the squad a realistic chance of being available when League One resumes.

The timing is not trivial. Blackpool recently lost goalkeeper Brad Peacock-Farrell to injury concerns that had already been flagged publicly, and the squad depth has been tested. Any manager will tell you that a fully-fit group heading into a busy autumn schedule is worth considerably more than a thin one scraping through on adrenaline.

Context after a difficult week

The break follows a bruising result against Barnsley, with Stendel's side taking the points in a game where Evatt himself admitted his players "weren't themselves." Losing to Barnsley while under-strength is one thing; arriving at the next block of fixtures with the same problems would be quite another.

Blackpool did show they can be ruthless when firing on all cylinders. The 4-0 win in which Ryan Yates scored on his return was a reminder of what this squad looks like at full tilt. Getting back to something resembling that is presumably what Evatt has in mind when he talks about resetting.

What the break means in practice

For supporters, international breaks tend to generate more frustration than relief. The rhythm of the week is interrupted, there is no Saturday afternoon fixture to plan around, and the obsessive checking of injury updates begins. Evatt's message, at least, is mildly reassuring: the club intends to use the time productively rather than simply waiting for the calendar to turn.

Whether that means a full squad available for the next League One outing remains to be seen. Evatt is experienced enough not to make promises he cannot keep, and the Radio Lancashire interview was notably careful in that regard. No names, no timescales, no guarantees. Just a manager acknowledging that football at this level is a grind, and that pausing to catch breath occasionally is not a weakness but a necessity.

The broader picture for Blackpool in the third tier this season has been one of intermittent promise punctuated by setbacks. A fully-fit squad going into the autumn run will not guarantee anything, but it at least gives Evatt the options he needs to make decisions rather than simply pick whoever is standing upright on a Friday afternoon.

The League One schedule resumes after the international break, and Blackpool will be hoping Evatt's optimism about the recovery window turns out to be well-founded.

Frequently asked

Why are Blackpool players missing from the squad?
Manager Ian Evatt has confirmed that Blackpool have a number of injured players, though he has not named them specifically. He is using the international break to give them time to recover their fitness.
When do Blackpool next play in League One?
Blackpool return to League One action after the September international break. Check the EFL fixtures list for the confirmed date and opponent.
How has Blackpool's season been going under Ian Evatt?
Blackpool's season has had mixed results under Evatt, including a heavy 4-0 win and a defeat to Barnsley in which Evatt admitted his side were below their best. Injuries have added to the pressure on the squad.