Darren Pratley has laid the blame on his current injury firmly at the feet of Roberto Martinez
Pratley believes he was rushed back from his shoulder injury last season and that has contributed to him now being sidelined for the opening weeks of the new season.
Pratley has tactically refused to point the finger directly but his comments to the Western Mail read “I was told to play when I was injured,” said Pratley. “I came back after five weeks when I should have been out for 10 .
“My shoulder wasn’t fixed properly last season. I was rushed back and we cut corners, which means I will miss the start of the new campaign. It was partly my fault because I wanted to play. But it was partly because I was pressured to rush back.
“ It was good to come back early, but, if you cut corners, it comes back to bite you. That’s what happened to me. It’s disappointing because I should have got it fixed properly last year instead of playing. If I had got it done properly, I would be starting the season.”
The comments lend themselves to knowing who he is blaming for the problems and he continued “I have to take it on the chin and learn from this. If I get injured again I need to do whatever is best for myself.
“There are a lot of players in football and at the end of the day you are just a piece of meat.
“I have to look after myself and I will know that in the future.”