McVeigh Battling Injury: Roth

Tasmania JackJumpers coach Scott Roth has revealed Jack McVeigh is struggling with his mobility and is playing through injury.

McVeigh’s game time has declined recently, as he played just 13 minutes against Sydney on December 30 and 18 minutes against South East Melbourne on New Year’s Day.

The JackJumpers’ energiser managed 27 minutes, his season average, in Saturday night’s loss to Melbourne United and contributed strongly with 18 points.

While Roth was happy to see the 26-year-old back on court for an extended period, he conceded McVeigh is battling injury issues, a harsh reality faced during the grind of the NBL season.

“He has been injured for about three weeks. I would say he is still not real good in some areas with some of his mobility,” Roth said of McVeigh.

“Trying to manage him the best we can. There are a lot of players hurt at this time of the year and he just happens to be one of our guys.”

McVeigh told the broadcast before last night’s game “I’ve been battling some injuries” and added he hasn’t “really trained in about a month”.

On a more positive front, Matt Kenyon and Sam McDaniel were back on Tasmania’s active roster against Melbourne.

Neither player hit the court, but it was the first time they suited up since November.

Kenyon and McDaniel play vital roles for the defensive-minded JackJumpers, but Roth acknowledges it will be a challenge to work them back into the line-up at the backend of the campaign.

“We will slowly try to get them back in and pick our spots when we think we can use them,” Roth said.

“Not rush them out there just to rush them out there, but it is very hard to play 13 guys. We do need them on the floor, and we will try to gradually get them out there maybe against match ups or things moving forward that will benefit us.

“To be coming back from an injury this late in the season with not a lot of practice time and not a lot of time to get game rhythm and being out as long as they’ve been, it’s difficult.”

Will Magnay continues to grow in confidence since returning from long-term knee issues and Roth believes the former NBA big man has a lot more to give, even if he doesn’t reach that level this season.

“He is slowly getting his legs back underneath him,” Roth said of Magnay.

“We are keeping him in the 20 minute range, that’s where we see him right now, and managing him during the week correctly to make sure he continues to stay healthy for us and gets through this next 2-3 weeks.

“I think he is probably at 60 per cent, there is a lot more there to grow into and that might not be this season, it might be over the break and into next season. He is on the right track.”

The JackJumpers are in a dogfight to stay in the top six after last night’s defeat. They sit in sixth place with a 11-10 record, with the Perth Wildcats and United on their tail.