Blackpool head coach Ian Evatt has expressed a need to get striker Niall Ennis firing on all cylinders to aid their bid for League One survival.
It’s fair to say that the Tangerines have endured a season to forget. A poor start to the campaign saw Steve Bruce dismissed in October, with the club sitting in the bottom four.
Club legend Evatt was brought in to steady the ship and things looked to have clicked when he guided the club to an unbeaten December to ease their relegation concerns. However, 2026 has been less kind. One win in seven has seen them dragged back into the equation and the Seasiders currently sit in 17th, just one point above the drop zone.
Ennis Return Provides Boost
Blackpool host a Plymouth Argyle team on Saturday that sit four points and one place above them in the table. A respectable draw at play-off chasing Huddersfield Town last weekend was viewed as a good point and their upcoming fixture represents a glorious opportunity to build on that.
The recent return of attacker Niall Ennis has been a welcome boost, although the 26-year-old is yet to find the back of the net following a lay-off of over three months. However, he has only been utilised from the bench over the past few weeks.
Having excelled last season during a six-month loan spell from Stoke City, the move was made permanent in the summer. It looked to have been a masterstroke when the ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers youngster scored three goals in the opening three games.
Therefore, Evatt would be forgiven for wanting to rush his talisman back into the starting lineup. A far more measured approach has been taken thus far though.
Some celebration from Niall Ennis 😵
The Stoke City loanee with a perfectly weighted lob for Blackpool@BlackpoolFC | @EFL pic.twitter.com/QKgracf0jF
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 29, 2025
Evatt Hopes Striker Can Catapult Blackpool To Safety
Ahead of Saturday’s crucial fixture, the former Bolton Wanderers boss has one eye on next season when it comes to Ennis’ fitness. Speaking candidly, Evatt admitted he will be needed much sooner than that:
“I think that’s too far away, I think we need Niall back sooner than that. We need him to get back to where he was as quickly as possible.
“That’s challenging because of the amount of games we’ve got and the squad depth we’ve had. We’re trying to do it in the midst of a busy campaign and the midst of games we’re trying to get results in.
“Fingers crossed with 16 games left we can get him there, and he can get the goals we need to fire us up the division.”
Continuing, the head coach admitted that despite the need for a player of his quality, risks won’t be taken:
“We have to get him fit in game, but we’re obviously trying to get results in game, and we can’t be seen to put someone on just to get him fit and ready when he’s not quite there.
“Everyone’s got a responsibility, and everyone’s a stakeholder in Niall’s fitness, and that’s Niall himself. He’s got to be doing the most he can be doing to get himself up to full speed.”
Ennis will have one eye on Saturday’s clash, which will see him come up against one of his former teams. He was a key part of Plymouth’s squad which stormed to the League One title in 2023.