Bradley Carnell explains Njabulo Blom super-sub role

St. Louis City SC coach Bradley Carnell has explained why former Kaizer Chiefs star Njabulo Blom played a super-sub role against Minnesota in the MLS on Sunday.

Bongokuhle Hlongwane started for Minnesota while Blom was on the bench for St. Louis after his two-week spell out with illness.

Newcastle 2-0 Man United: Hosts leapfrog Red Devils in the Premier League

---

Why was Njabulo Blom laid low?

The 23-year-old former Kiazer Chiefs player had COVID-19, which forced him to withdraw out from the Bafana Bafana squad. Blom returned last week and appeared off the bench in a 4-0 win against Real Salt Lake. St. Louis started the season with a perfect record of five wins from five, but that record has come to an end at the hands of Hlongwane’s Minnesota.

Kaizer Chiefs fixtures: Next five tests and kickoff times

Arsenal star Ben White: “I don’t watch football”

---

Carnell explains tactical switch with Blom

“It was a little bit of pressure on our back line,” said Carnell to a US publication, Our Sports Central.

“We just thought we needed the security of one extra six, and that’s why Njabulo came in the game. We just try to create some good moments in the transition.

Carnell continued: “We try to still keep numbers in the box, and we try to still squeeze the game without losing the game.

“We didn’t want to expose ourselves, and we thought the structure that we went to would help us in these certain moments,”

Premier League fixtures: Title race set for more twists

---

St. Louis City’s loss to Minnesota was their first defeat of the season but they’re still top of the standings in the Western Conference. They’re two points ahead of Seattle Sounders, who they play next Sunday. Bradley Carnell will surely be tempted to use Blom from the start in that match.

Hit up James Freemantle for more insights, analysis and love for the beautiful game.

Also, follow The South African on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news updates