KAA Gent's Defender Absent from Final Training Session, Max Dean Makes an Impressive Appearance
KAA Gent secured a victory against KV Mechelen with clean sheets, but are concerned about defender Christian Burgess who is still recovering from an injury sustained during their last game. The team faces the challenge of hosting IFK Göteborg in a crucial Conference League match on Thursday night with a 1-0 lead from the first leg.
Rik De Mil Discusses Burgess's Return to Action
The question of whether Christian Burgess can return to action before the upcoming Conference League match against IFK Göteborg remains uncertain. According to coach Rik De Mil, 'the swelling is improving daily.' However, it's still a race against time and no final decision has been made yet. Burgess will likely be in the squad for the match but a decision might only be made on Thursday or even after warming up.
‘We can use Christian’s qualities and experience well,' said De Mil. 'On the other hand, we won’t do anything stupid. The chance that he plays on Thursday evening? I would say 40-60 percent.'
Max Dean Makes a Notable Appearance During Training
During training, Max Dean made a notable appearance, suggesting renewed enthusiasm for pushing the team further in Europe.
Burgess's Injury Poses a Significant Concern
Burgess faced significant pain after a tough tackle during the match and was held out at halftime. This raised concerns about his availability for the upcoming match against IFK Göteborg. During his post-match walk, Burgess could be seen limping.
‘Burgess? He received a massive stamp and did not land well. It will be a race to Thursday, so that worries me,' said De Mil during his press conference. 'Paskotsi has handled it very well and has performed excellently in the second half. He has been absent for a long time and is ready to start if needed, but we must also have a plan B. The rotation is not significant at this position, so we will need to carefully examine our options.'
