After not even being on the bench on Saturday, are we concerned about his fitness? (along with Tuanzebe)

Or are the club just taking their time to get him up to match fitness and making sure he doesn't get injured again?

Not been much said about him or his fitness recently.

It would be good to have him as an option from the bench for a while, we really need his presence up front.

Foster has done really well so far, but we need other options and I don't see that Flem has the pace for the current style of play, I may well be completely wrong, as usual though!

Both were injured shortly before they joined us. Makes sense to ease them in. Slow and steady...

Hasnt he just been called up by Albania ?

It happens a lot with new signings in most clubs where they don't walk into the starting 11 anymore

I don't think we can truly appreciate where your fitness levels need to be to start a game in the PL and these lads haven't played a lot of football with their other clubs.

I wouldn't be surprised it Isac didn't start against us

Why would we be worried about his fitness? He played 65 minutes vs Derby.

Parker has explained this really clearly in interviews. Both he and Ugochukwu came in without having had pre-seasons, but with Ugochukwu ahead of him in terms of fitness, for some reason.

Broja will have a personal fitness plan not dissimilar to pre-season and will be working through it, presumably with a view to being ready after the international break.

randomclaret2 wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 03, 2025 9:40 am

Hasnt he just been called up by Albania ?

Yes, perhaps he'll get some minutes. Their 1st game is a friendly.

boatshed bill wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 03, 2025 9:48 am

Yes, perhaps he'll get some minutes. Their 1st game is a friendly.

….against Gibraltar

NewClaret wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 03, 2025 9:48 am

Why would we be worried about his fitness? He played 65 minutes vs Derby.

The transfer window is closed - it's back to certain posters being worried or concerned every day

He looked a million miles away based on Derby. I suspect that game was used to assess whether he could play any role against Manchester United.

Papabendi wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 03, 2025 10:58 am

He looked a million miles away based on Derby. I suspect that game was used to assess whether he could play any role against Manchester United.

Bit harsh. Great play to set up Ramsey.

More concern is which members of the 25 squad could we lose to the ANC in December and January this season Hannibal, Foster-any others?

Axel Tuanzebe is also a possible loss to the ANC I think

I think that's it for the AFCON. Tuanzebe, Hannibal and Foster.

Looking at the fixture list they may miss about 6 games depending on 1) if selected 2) how long their Nation survive 3) they return to UK once out of the competition. May not matter much for 3 games N/C Man U and Liverpool.

Especially considering his start to the season, Foster is the main one.

We don't want him injured on international duty again, it definitely disrupted his club career last time.

ollieclarets8 wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 03, 2025 11:12 am

I think that's it for the AFCON. Tuanzebe, Hannibal and Foster.

Benson and Hountondji (if they were here / back)

ollieclarets8 wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 03, 2025 11:12 am

I think that's it for the AFCON. Tuanzebe, Hannibal and Foster.

Just refuse to release them

basil6345789 wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 03, 2025 11:15 pm

Just refuse to release them

It’s not that simple ,I think players may be banned from playing for us if they aren’t injured.

ollieclarets8 wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 03, 2025 11:12 am

I think that's it for the AFCON. Tuanzebe, Hannibal and Foster.

Sunderland could really be hit.
They have 7 possibles for AFCON

randomclaret2 wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 03, 2025 9:40 am

Hasnt he just been called up by Albania ?

He started today against Gibraltar in a friendly.

gawthorpe_view wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 04, 2025 5:19 pm

He started today against Gibraltar in a friendly.

And got subbed off at half time

Whether that was pre planned or not the comments I’ve seen on X aren’t very complimentary

wilks_bfc wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 04, 2025 8:03 pm

And got subbed off at half time

Whether that was pre planned or not the comments I’ve seen on X aren’t very complimentary

He didn't have much of an impact for sure.

wilks_bfc wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 04, 2025 8:03 pm

And got subbed off at half time

Whether that was pre planned or not the comments I’ve seen on X aren’t very complimentary

An Everton fan i know wasn't very complimentary about him either!

wilks_bfc wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 04, 2025 8:08 am

Sunderland could really be hit.
They have 7 possibles for AFCON

That's good.

Broja needs games and support from fans.

He's had a crappy few years, he needs consistency and a bit of love from us.

There's obviously a very good player in there, he'll be back, just might take a bit of time.

He was getting an absolute slating from Albanian national team fans on Twitter last night. Apparently subbed off at half time because he looked terrible. I did see one or two speaking in his defense saying he had been subject to a couple of very nasty tackles early in the first half so refused to commit himself after that.

I think we can take online Albanian fan comments about a friendly game where a player is clearly playing his way back to fitness with a massive pinch of salt.

Broja is a risk (for us). There is a player there (or was?). Any game time is good, as it increases the chances of that player returning to his former best.
It will be interesting to see what game time, if any, Broja gets for Albania's next outing - a competitive WC qualifier. That will be a real indicator of how neutrals (his Albanian coaches) rate him.
The success / flop of Broja is a key to how well we did in the window. I have my fingers crossed.

Swizzlestick wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 05, 2025 10:00 am

I think we can take online Albanian fan comments about a friendly game where a player is clearly playing his way back to fitness with a massive pinch of salt.

No. I think we should demand that a player who has barely played 90 mins in that last 6 months reach peak form immediately!

agreenwood wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 05, 2025 10:24 am

No. I think we should demand that a player who has barely played 90 mins in that last 6 months reach peak form immediately!

Crazy isn’t it ag? Let’s see what he can offer us when he’s fit.

I would hope as a club we questioned the sanity of his national team selecting him at this stage or maybe we saw it as a step in his return to fitness. I would imagine that him being taken off at half time in a friendly was part of the conversation we had with them and him. Nothing to be concerned about currently let’s see how he progresses over the coming weeks, the way Goster has started has given him time at least anyway.

Anyone that saw his performance against Derby would acknowledge that this was a player clearly just getting minutes into the legs, avoiding injury and very little else. I’m pretty certain he will have been careful whilst playing for his country as well. I am sure that we have not yet seen anywhere near a fully fit player. Give him the time he needs.

it's not just about fitness. It's also about getting match sharpness, shaking off the rustiness and the much overlooked aspect of confidence.

I don't actually know what he's got when he is fully fit.

Too early to say in my opinion. I’ve seen nothing to excite me but prepared to give him a chance
Got to say that I expected more by now

Spike wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 05, 2025 2:17 pm

Too early to say in my opinion. I’ve seen nothing to excite me but prepared to give him a chance
Got to say that I expected more by now

I am happy to trust our manager.

I don't see the rush to get him into the side. He could take until January, would it matter as long as we have Foster and Flemming fit?

agreenwood wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 05, 2025 10:24 am

No. I think we should demand that a player who has barely played 90 mins in that last 6 months reach peak form immediately!

Crazy isn't it! But not surprised to see some Burnley fans already having practically written him off!

Leisure wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 05, 2025 4:40 pm

Crazy isn't it! But not surprised to see some Burnley fans already having practically written him off!

Unbelievable ... his cameo in the cup was enough to show me he has the tools in the box to a job ... some Burnley fans need to give their heads a wobble.

Just bring him home without injury

You only have to look at how England fans respond to our performances against sides like Andorra etc to aee how much notice you need to take on the ability of a player. They are usually slagged off left right and centre after internationals so i wouldn’t worry too much. Let him get fit and then judge on how he plays for us