Wildschut injury dampens City win

Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell admitted it was still too early to know the full extent of the injury sustained by winger Yanic Wildschut in his side’s final pre-season run-out at home to Eastleigh.

The Grecians wrapped up their pre-season programme with a comfortable 3-0 success at St James’ Park.

Summer signings Tristan Crama and Josh Magennis were both on target, as was midfielder Reece Cole with a penalty, as City warmed up for next week’s Sky Bet League One opener against Rotherham United on a winning note.

However, the day was overshadowed by the injury to the 32-year-old, who had to be stretchered just 10 minutes into the game.

Caldwell said: “That’s the only disappointing thing from the day really, Yanic’s injury, it doesn’t look great. Right now, I don’t want to say what it could be until the scan.

“But there looks like there’s damage to his knee, so fingers crossed it’s not as bad as we fear.

“He’s in there now in a brace, he’ll get a scan this week and we will see how it is. It’s a disappointment, of course, but as I’ve just said to him that happens in football.

“It’s just a simple action he does probably a hundred times a day - and then he feels his knee collapse under him. Fingers crossed, stay positive, and hopefully it’s better news later this week.”

The injury to Wildschut, who has been in good form during pre-season, was the only thing to take the gloss off City’s latest win.

Caldwell adding: “I thought we were good, but again there’s little issues, little teething problems. It’s new players playing for the first time, like Johnly and Tristan, Joe’s only played a few games, so there are little details to iron out.

“Overall, I’m delighted with the players’ application and intent. We scored some good goals and had some really good moments, but there are still little things we have to iron out before next week.”

A clean sheet was among the positives for Caldwell, as was the debut of Brentford loanee Crama, who only signed for City earlier this week.

“I spoke to Steven Pressley when Brentford came down and he said he was very dangerous attacking in the box. Perks and Al have been working on different set-pieces throughout pre-season, which we will keep adding to as the season goes on, but it was good to see show that quality early on.

“Overall, his quality on the ball, his speed on any ball in behind, I thought he was excellent throughout."

With Rotherham first up in League One, Caldwell acknowledged pre-season has served its purpose for him and his players, but now the real work begins.

“There are little details we still need to work on,” said the Scotsman. “We are playing a very good team, one which has just come down from the Championship. We are still building the relationships within the team, so we will work hard again next week.

“I’ve been delighted with the boys’ effort throughout the whole of pre-season, but next Saturday we will get punched in the face and we have to be ready to stand up to that. That’s players, staff, everyone inside this stadium next Saturday at three o’clock. I think we are ready for it now, you could see the last 20 minutes the tempo of the game, the supporters, we need real football and we will get that next week.”

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