DAVE WILD must reorganise his battered and bewildered MOSSLEY squad as he prepared for tomorrow (Saturday’s) FA Trophy preliminary tie at Cleethorpes Town.
As if it wasn’t bad enough to lose 6-0 at Marine last week, Paul Marshall suffered a serious knee injury in Tuesday’s Manchester Premier Cup clash with North West Counties League Abbey Hey.
Andy Keogh is banned but Wild has re-signed Kieran Nolan from Atherton Collieries to strengthen his depleted midfield, describing him as everything he wants in a player.
Astley Mulholland has returned to training and Godwin Abadaki should soon be available.
Jack Tuohy (illness) and Jeremy Seosolo (deadleg) will both be missing for GLOSSOP NORTH END who travel to Pontefract Collieries hoping for revenge against the club that outmuscled them to win 3-1 in the FA Cup at the start of September.
There are so many injuries at DROYLSDEN that training was called off last night. Several players face fitness tests in the morning. However, the game is in doubt because of the persistent rain and there will be a pitch inspection at 8.45am.
All winning clubs in the Trophy will get £3,000 in prize money.
CURZON ASHTON could feature two new signings in their National League North encounter with bottom-of-the-table Blyth Spartans, the club that put them out of the FA Cup, at the Tameside Stadium.
Manager Mark Bradshaw has several players out as he looks to end a two-month winless run that has seen the Nash plunge down the table. Andy Halls and Mo Ali are suspended and Olly Thornley has been left on crutches after suffering a severe injury in Monday’s Manchester Premier Cup defeat by Wythenshawe Town.
Burnley keeper Harry Allen has been taken on loan as cover for Cam Mason as Kai Calderbank-Park is on international duty with Australia.
The injury malaise also affects HYDE UNITED who should have hopes of winning their BetVictor NPL premier division match at Grantham who lost 7-0 at Buxton on Tuesday.
Joel Logan suffered a severe knee injury in midweek and could be sidelined for several weeks. Jacko Hardacre is suspended for accruing five yellow cards and Tom Pratt, Oran Thompson and John McCombe did not train on Thursday.
Striker Michael Elstone, who was signed only a week ago and came on for the closing stages of the Manchester Premier Cup victory over Glossop, has decided he needs a break from football and has quit.
Manager Dave McGurk added: “Danny O’Brien has joined Atherton Collieries. That was a tough one because we like him but he wasn’t playing and we are well stocked in wide positions.
“We’re hoping to sign a central midfielder in time for the game and have him on the bench.”
Manager Jody Banim has made two loan signings as he bids to pick up his ASHTON UNITED team after last week’s 6-2 FA Cup reverse at the hands of Spennymoor.
Winger Elliot Johnston from Salford City and French attacking midfielder Florian Skander Gonzales Dhifflaoui — known as Florian Gonzales — from Oldham Athletic should both feature at Lancaster.
Aaron Smith has completed his suspension and Josh Wilson is available after feeling tightness in a hamstring in midweek when he was substituted as a precaution.
Banim said: “We look a little bit stronger and we should have our first full bench for a few weeks.
“After what happened against Spennymoor we clearly have to come up with a solution. We’re always going to play out from the back but we’ve got to find more patterns and come up with new ideas.”
STALYBRIDGE CELTIC have another full squad for their game with Bamber Bridge at Bower Fold. Neil Kengni may be in the starting line-up after coming on as a substitute against South Shields.