Dipo Akinyemi back in full training in York City injury latest

After being initially ruled out for what would likely be the rest of York’s National League campaign, Hinshelwood has reported positive progress on Akinyemi, who is nearing a welcome return to the City fold.

The striker is officially back in full training with the Minstermen after overcoming a partial ACL tear in a 2-1 defeat to Sutton United, a match which he even scored in after sustaining the injury.

However, Saturday’s visit to Essex-based Braintree could be too soon for the York attacker – much to Akinyemi’s disappointment, not able to feature against his former team.

Hinshelwood confirmed: “There’s no fresh injuries, Dipo is edging that bit closer.

“He’s back in full training now, he’s probably not going to be available this weekend.

“Much to his disgust, he’s desperate to be involved but we’re really happy with how he is at the moment.”

Hinshelwood also reported a positive update on the progress of Adam Crookes, who is in line for a start on Saturday.

A hernia concern for City left-back Cam John will see Crookes earn a start after a lengthy lay-off for York, with the boss glad to see no reaction after his return at Yeovil Town last Saturday.

“Everyone else had had no reaction, Crookesy, which is massive for us, Ryan Fallowfield, has had no reaction,” Hinshelwood continued.

“We then had Jeff King and Ricky [Aguiar] who didn’t travel with us but have both trained brilliantly in response – I expected that from them.

“Marvin Armstrong as well, not being in the squad, Ash [Nathaniel-George] didn’t get on.

“The squad is in a really good place and there are difficult decisions.

“To have that at this stage of the season is great for us.

“We’ll see how he [Crookes] is, we’d like him to start if he could.

“Cam John looks to have a bit of a hernia situation the moment, so we’re just monitoring that at the moment.

“If Crookesy got 45 and then Cam John got 45, it might rule them both out for Tuesday.

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“There are different interpretations to happen, it might be a case of one will start [on Saturday] and then the other will start on Tuesday.

“There’s lots of factors, those little niggly ones, that we’ll take into consideration as well.”

York have proven fortunate in the weight of their injury list for much of the season, only currently having Akinyemi and John as a doubt for Saturday’s match.

It’s a positive position which Hinshelwood is happy to be in, especially considering the current timing of the campaign.

He heaped praise onto medical staff Sam Mannings and Olly Parker, complimenting their approach to ensuring their players have remained fit for large parts of the season.

“A lot does get made of me not keeping the same team and it does do even when we win a game, but the physios will put it on the management style that we like to rotate and keep it healthy.

“I do, rightly or wrongly, listen to the medical side. They are so good and they flag up players when they are feeling fatigued or injured.

“If that means they have got to miss a day of training, it’s in the best interest of the players.

“Junior [Luamba] and Lewis [Richardson] were new to us, Crookesy didn’t train yesterday and he was given a couple of days to recover.

“That work that goes on through the week is vital.

Adam Crookes could be in line for a start for York City on Saturday. (Image: Tom Poole) “It’s not just from pre-season, but is a testament to the medical staff that we’ve got, Sam and Olly, for keeping tabs on keeping the players fresh.”

Some bad news on the injury front does come for Levi Andoh, who is currently on loan at National League North outfit Hereford.

Andoh was an unfortunate casualty of Hereford’s match last Saturday, being substituted off of the field in the 18th minute of the Bulls’ 1-0 loss to Scarborough Athletic, through injury.

Hinshelwood sympathised, saying: “We think it’s his collarbone area, I think he’s going through an MRI just to get it checked over and seen to.

“At this sort of stage and with that injury, there’s not too much our medical team can do.

“He’ll have an x-ray and we’ll see how he is, then we will take the necessary protocol in his rehab and making sure we can get him back as soon as we can.

“I’ve got so much sympathy, I had to retire at 26 and never felt I got to the pinnacle of my career as a player.

“I feel for anyone that’s out injured, and I have a lot of time and sympathy for players when they are out injured.”

York’s healthy injury list does mean that any new additions, or outgoings, are also unlikely ahead of next Thursday’s deadline.

This comes after George Sykes-Kenworthy’s recent loan to Alfreton Town: “We’ll see how we get through Saturday and Tuesday, but the squad is in a healthy place and I can’t envisage too much happening now.

“There’s a lot to be said about the group being together and the togetherness now.

“I’m delighted for George, it’s been a really difficult time for him after he picked up the injury in pre-season.

“He had a bit of a weird one with how it sort of happened, so I’m delighted that he’s back and is getting some minutes under his belt.”