Yeates is going nowhere - U's boss
MARK Yeates is going nowhere. That is the sentiment expressed by Colchester United boss Geraint Williams.
Carl Marston
MARK Yeates is going nowhere. That is the sentiment expressed by Colchester United boss Geraint Williams.
Star winger Yeates has been the subject of much transfer speculation this summer, but manager Williams remains confident that the Irishman will still be a U's player for the start of the new season.
Both Yeates and striker Kevin Lisbie were notable absentees from the U's 21-man squad for the pre-season opener at Tiptree on Wednesday night.
But unlike Lisbie, who remains poised to sign for Ipswich, his team-mate Yeates was not overlooked because of transfer talk. Instead, the Irishman was not risked during the 4-0 win at Tiptree due to bad blisters.
The ex-Tottenham 22-year-old had reportedly been on the brink of signing for Crystal Palace last month, until he failed a medical because of his damaged shoulder.
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But Yeates has since overcome all his shoulder problems, which had prompted an operation last February.
“Mark (Yeates) had bad blisters, so there was no point in risking him at Tiptree,” confirmed manager Williams.
“We talked to Tony Flynn (physio) and he thought it best to let the blisters settle down. We are planning to have them bound up so that he can train and he should be involved in some part at Heybridge (on Saturday).
“I don't know where all the transfer speculation came from. Mark has completely recovered from his shoulder problems and I'm looking forward to him starting the season with us,” added Williams.
Defender Pat Baldwin also underwent a shoulder operation last season, and the ex-Chelsea trainee is making good progress, although he is likely to miss the start of the League One campaign.
Williams said: “We are pleased with Pat's recovery. He has seen a specialist with Tony Flynn, and we are hoping that he might play a part in one of the later pre-season games.”
