Isaiah Osbourne facing five-week absence

Blackpool manager Paul Ince has backed his squad to react to the news that midfielder Isaiah Osbourne will be sidelined for five weeks with a hamstring injury.

Osbourne joins Gary MacKenzie in the treatment room over the Christmas period, but Ince believes that their replacements have the ability to ease into the starting lineup.

The 46-year-old told reporters: "We've got a few big-hitters out. The ones that come in have to do a job, but I'm sure that they will."

Osbourne has started 14 times in the Championship during this campaign.