Chiefs have had a number of long-term casualties in recent months, losing some of their key figures at crucial stages of the campaign, such as Itumeleng Khune, Erick Mathoho, Lebogang Manyama, Happy Mashiane and most recently Nkosingiphile Ngcobo.
With a crunch cup quarterfinal against The Citizens coming up following the FIFA break, Middendorp has no good news from the treatment room as none of them have made it out.
“It’s totally not ideal for us as a club or brand, what happened in the near past, but we can only repeat, the fact is nobody from the injury list is coming back,” declared Middendorp on Thursday.
“We can mention all the same names, Manyama, Mathoho, Ngcobo, Mashiane, whatever, we can continue, but nobody is prepared for this game we’re going into [on Sunday].”
A glimmer of hope, however, is that other players that have recently returned from lengthy lay-offs have been able to utilise the domestic break to get up to speed in terms of fitness.
“At the moment I‘m quite happy that players like ‘Rama’ [Mphahlele], Philani Zulu and some other guys that came back from long-term injuries are getting better and better,” he added.
“Reeve Frosler was a bit disturbed with getting invited for the [SA under-23] camp. I would have loved to see him here working on his intensity and what he has to do, but okay. In the end, he was sent home with a reason I could have discussed before his invitation.
“Nonetheless, we will prepare ourselves to go with the right mentality and show the right attitude with the players we have for Sunday’s game. We have enough potential.”
