Ian Holloway is hopeful that Keith Southern will make a full recovery after having surgery to remove a tumour from one of his testicles.
Holloway revealed that his players were in shock when they heard the news about one of their most popular teammates.
"We've got a very special group here and a lot of the lads are close to Keith and you won't meet a nicer man in your life than him.
"I'm very fortunate that I've ended up managing these boys because I want people like that in my life.
"He has had to face something we’d all be terrified of."
Southern, who has been with the club since joining from Everton in 2002 and is Blackpool's longest serving player, is planning to come back to training within six weeks and Holloway thinks that is a mark of the man he is.
"We spoke to Keith on Friday morning and he is in good spirits and it is typical of him to be talking about returning to training. He wants to be back sooner rather than later."
Blackpool managed a victory against Reading which was dedicated to Southern thanks to a great goal from Callum McManaman.
The Tangerines boss was blown away by the strike and said: "The goal was worth the entrance fee and how McManaman did that I don't even know, he turned and dragged it back, he had no space to hit it and slotted it in."
