The 27-year-old is simmering over claims as he vows to return as quickly as possible
Frustrated Todd Cantwell has come out swinging over the knee injury which has ruled him out of Blackburn Rovers’ last nine Championship games.
The former Rangers playmaker took to social media on Saturday night after what he believes is “nonsense” which he claims is circulating around his unavailability for the promotion chasers. Cantwell is a key man at Ewood Park after making the switch after he dramatically forced former Ibrox boss Philippe Clement to return to a press conference in July 2024 to reveal Cantwell wanted out of Rangers.
And now the 27-year-old is simmering over his status as he vows to return as quickly as possible. Cantwell, posting on social media, said: “Against Stoke I suffered a hyper extension in my knee. It has turned out to be a complicated injury which has really been hard for me as I was feeling very strong and efficient. Injuries are part of the game and I’m working everyday to be back as soon as possible. Keep supporting the team and don’t listen to all the nonsense that seems to circulate on social media. See you soon.”
Rovers manager Valerien Ismael admits he now only wants to hear when the former England U21 man is available as his patience wears thin over Cantwell’s extended absence. Speaking after the draw with Wrexham, the former West Brom boss said: “Don’t ask me again. Every time I get disappointed. Every time it’s push back, push back. I said to Toddy: ‘come to me, knock on my door & say I’m ready to play.”
Ismael explained further, adding: “It can be tomorrow, it can be in one week. I will prepare (for Ipswich) with the players I’ve got and if he’s coming around the corner and saying, ‘I’m ready’, I will be happy. He’s frustrated because he’s still feeling something. He can train with consistency but he still feels something. Toddy is a player who needs to be right in his mind. I told him. You have to be 100 percent and not 80 percent and thinking about your injury’. That’s why it takes too long.
“But now it’s too much because you see seven, eight players, potential regular starters for us, it’s tough. We manage well at the minute but I could use some players back as soon as possible.”
Follow Record Sport on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-the minute breaking news, video and audio on the SPFL, the Scotland national team and beyond.
Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport’s newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.
