Sidebar

19
Tue, Mar
25 New Articles

Justin Hoyte at Millwall
Typography

BURTON Albion manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink says former Arsenal defender Justin Hoyte will not be offered a contract.

The 30-year-old had been training with the Brewers at St George's Park as Hasselbaink weighed up offering the right-back a deal.

Albion were without natural cover at right-back following the season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered by Kelvin Maynard in pre-season.

That has left Phil Edwards as the club's only recognised right-back in the squad.

But central midfielder Tom Naylor – who played on the right side of defence for Derby County earlier in his career – has been able to drop into that position when needed, most recently in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy defeat at Doncaster Rovers.

"Justin is no longer training and we can't give him a contract," said Hasselbaink.

"The thought behind the trial was that Kelvin was injured, and he covered the right-back position and a few others as well.

"We needed someone to come in and cover that but we have, at the moment, got quite a big squad so we are trying to resolve that in the squad rather than give money out to an extra player."

Hasselbaink also confirmed that Aurelien Joachim was unaffected by food poisoning on international duty.

The Luxembourg national side were in talks with UEFA about postponing their European Championship qualifier with Belarus after 16 members of the 20-man squad were affected.

The illnesses came after a team meal of spaghetti bolognese but Joachim – who is back for this weekend's home match with Rochdale – was one of four players not struck down by illness.

"Aurelien Joachim has international duty and comes back today," said Hasselbaink.

"He was not caught up in it. He was okay."