Conference North: Injury worries for Lowestoft Town ahead of Harrogate clash
Sam Gaughran of Lowestoft Town receives treatment on the pitch during the Conference North match against Stockport County at Edgeley Park, Stockport. Picture by Michael Sedgwick/Focus Images Ltd - Credit: Michael Sedgwick/Focus Images
The Lowestoft Town defence could have a new look to it when Harrogate Town visit Crown Meadow tomorrow.
Dan Gleeson of Lowestoft Town walks off the pitch after getting injured during the Conference North match against Stockport County at Edgeley Park, Stockport. Picture by Michael Sedgwick/Focus Images Ltd - Credit: Michael Sedgwick/Focus Images
Centre-backs Dan Gleeson and Sam Gaughran are both unlikely to be fit for the Conference North clash, after picking up ankle problems in the 3-0 defeat at Stockport County, which brought an end to the Trawlerboys' unbeaten start to life at Step Two of the non-league pyramid.
With Gleeson also the Blues' captain and Gaughran the vice-captain, it leaves the Lowestoft management with some selection headaches.
'We're going to get an update at training on Thursday night, when the physio can have a good look at them and assess them, but I think they might be struggling,' director of football Craig Fleming said.
'We've got a few bumps and bruises, Ricky (Hayles) has taken a few bumps but should be okay and Ash (goalkeeper Ashlee Jones) has got this ongoing shoulder issue, but hopefully they'll both be okay.'
The 42-year-old former Norwich City centre-back joked he may even have to pull on his boots again for the visit of Harrogate and said his squad aren't feeling too downhearted about their defeat on Saturday.
'It was a bit of a double-edged sword for us because I don't think we played particularly well, the things we've done well game after game, we didn't do,' the Yorkshireman continued.
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'But to be fair to the lads, it was such a long day. We left at quarter to six so they had to get up very early and travel to meet the coach.
'So it was a long day, which I suppose was inevitable, but we don't want that to become an excuse, we have to deal with that.'
Harrogate have won one and drawn two of their first six matches, to sit four points behind the Blues in the table.
'It's going to be tough, Harrogate are a good side,' Fleming added. 'I've seen a little bit of them and they are a good side, but this is a strong league.
'I've looked at a couple of teams towards the bottom of the league and they are very strong. There are some big teams at the top end, where the standard is very high, but at the bottom, in the Ryman Premier some of the teams towards the bottom we knew would be easier, but that's not the case in this league.'
