Michael Appleton reveals surprise factor behind Blackpool's decision to re-sign Grant Ward

That’s according to Michael Appleton, who has suggested the decision to hand the 27-year-old a short-term contract until January was a no-brainer.

Ward returns to Bloomfield Road in an official capacity having been released by Neil Critchley at the end of last season.

However, the former Ipswich Town man has been allowed to train with the Seasiders for the last few months to help build up his fitness after an injury-hit campaign last time out.

The main motivation in bringing Ward back to the club is to add more squad depth to Blackpool’s midfield, which has taken another hit this week with Kevin Stewart undergoing surgery on his fractured foot.

But with Jordan Gabriel out injured until the New Year and new signing Andy Lyons not arriving until January, Ward could also help cover at right-back if anything happens to Callum Connolly – who is currently one yellow card away from a one-match ban.

Ward is naturally a midfielder but he has played at full-back in the past, such as Millwall away last season when Connolly was sent off.

“We’ve obviously brought Granty on board which was a sensible one, it was an easy one. It wasn’t even a difficult one in the end,” Appleton explained.

“I never really had any intentions of doing it but he’s been training with us, he’s not found a home and he knows the lads, so he’s comfortable. He gives us an option.

“We wouldn’t have done it just for him to be a body, because he’s been doing it for three or four months anyway.

“He’s come in to effect the group and obviously Callum is doing his best at right-back at the minute. He’s on four bookings so that’s something we need to be aware of and Granty, I’m not saying he’s a right-back, but he can certainly do that role because I’ve seen him do it before.”

When asked if this is the stroke of luck Ward needs after his career was stalled by rupturing his achilles last August, Appleton added: “Possibly, because he will get an opportunity to impress.

“In the earlier part of the season he was nowhere near fit and he was miles off it, but he’s stuck with us, he knows what we want in terms of how we set up and go about stuff, so it shouldn’t be too big of a transition for him.

“It’s not like he’s got to go into a new club and build those relationships because he’s already got them.”

Ward missed the vast majority of last season after suffering his serious injury in the game against Bournemouth in August 2021.

After being let go, he briefly spent time with Reading on trial before the season got underway but was never offered a contract.

He then returned to Bloomfield Road where he featured in the pre-season friendlies against Rangers and Salford City before also turning out for Stephen Dobbie’s development squad this season as a trialist.

Ward was again involved on Tuesday during Blackpool’s 2-0 win against Huddersfield Town in the Central League.