NEIL YOUNG is viewing his defensive options ahead of Saturday’s match against high-flying Hednesford Town at the Exacta Stadium.
The Chester boss said he had spoken to a number of managers about the possibility of securing the services of a left back on a one month loan deal.
And Young admitted he had been frustrated after watching the Blues lose three key players during his side’s 3-2 defeat at Ebbsfleet United in Saturday’s FA Trophy second round tie.
Matty McGinn, Jerome Wright, and Antoni Sarcevic all suffered injuries and had to be substituted during the entertaining clash which featured goals from Matty McNeil and Jamie Rainford.
“I’ve been looking at short term alternatives for the left back spot because Matty tweaked a hamstring on Saturday and had to be substituted,” Young said.
“I can’t see him recovering from a hamstring injury in time for Saturday’s match against Hednesford and if he still feels sore today then I’ll be speaking to the club’s board to see if I can bring in a left back on loan for a month.
“I brought Matty off at Ebbsfleet at half-time because I didn’t want him to aggravate the problem, and I won’t be taking any risks if I feel he is not 100 per cent for this Saturday’s match.
“I need Matty fit for the remainder of the season and it’s important that he gets himself fit. It’s not a case of having to play him for the Hednesford game.
“It was so frustrating to lose him as well as Jerome and Antoni at Ebbsfleet because Matty, Jerome and Jamie (Rainford) were linking up really well on the left hand side of the pitch.”
Young is hoping that Sarcevic will be available for selection on Saturday, but Wright and McGinn are looking doubtful, and Chester are still without suspended duo Michael Powell and Wes Baynes.
Young added: “Jerome is currently on crutches after visiting hospital because his foot has severe swelling and bruising, and Antoni is taking anti-inflammatory tablets after suffering an injury around his chest and ribs.
“At the moment we face the situation of having only 14 senior players available for selection to face Hednesford.
“Matty is looking a doubt and we are still without Wes because of suspension. Levi (Mackin) can play as a right back, but we are still short of cover in the left back position.
“I’ve been casting my net and making tentative enquiries to managers to try and discover whether we can bring a player in on loan.
“If the situation doesn’t improve I may have to do something about it.”
Keen to see his players focus on this Saturday’s league match after the disappointment of Chester’s FA Trophy exit, Young added: “At the end of the Ebbsfleet match there was a feeling that we could have done more. But it has been nice to hear all the positive comments about the team, the club, and supporters.
“We matched Ebbsfleet in every single department apart from five minutes before half time when we had to change our formation and they scored.
“Our game plan went haywire because we lost Matty and Jerome from the left of our team who were both key to what we were doing.
“But fair play to the lads because we re-evaluated and we went for it. No one could have accused us of not trying to win the game.
“But we now need the Chester fans to get behind the team and be as loud as possible for our next match.
“All our games are now important if we’re going to win the league, so it’s vital that we are at our best against Hednesford.”