DENIS SMITH was today playing a waiting game with Lee McEvilly.

An X-ray has revealed that McEvilly, who has scored seven goals this season, may have sustained a stress fracture in his right foot.

McEvilly was due at Wrexham Maelor Hospital today for a CT scan to see if an operation is required and Smith was awaiting the results of the tests before deciding whether the 23-year-old would be ruled out of Saturday’s League Two clash at Carlisle United.

“Lee played 90 minutes against Notts County on Saturday, but he had felt it in the previous game against Mansfield Town,” Smith said today. “Whatever the injury is, we will find out after the scan. Lee has a problem and our job is to get to the bottom of it, to see if it is anything serious.

“Everyone is making assumptions at the moment. The doctors had a look at the foot and think it needs investigating further. If we knew what it was, why have a scan? We will wait and see what the results are and if there is a problem, will deal with it.”

Reds’ physio Mel Pejic was also bordering on caution until the true extent of McEvilly’s injury is known.

“We will get the results back and the consultant will decide what to do next, whether Lee needs an operation or to let the injury heal naturally and if he can play on,” Pejic said today.

“The injury came to light more so after Saturday’s match against Notts County and when Lee has had the scan, we will look at what the best option is.”

McEvilly, nicknamed Evil by Reds’ fans, has been in a rich vein of scoring form in recent months, scoring six goals in his last seven outings.

If tests reveal that McEvilly, who joined Wrexham from Accrington Stanley in the summer, has a stress fracture, he could be out until some time in the New Year.

On-loan Robbie Foy is one option to replace McEvilly in attack alongside Jon Walters but the Liverpool striker, who scored the injury-time equaliser against County on Saturday at The Racecourse, has suffered a recurrence of illness which has plagued him in recent weeks.

But Smith remains as positive as ever as he plans Wrexham’s visit to Brunton Park on Saturday.

“I know Lee is important to us but I have options,” said Smith. “Robbie has not been well for a few weeks now and even though he came on as a substitute on Saturday, he has not trained again this week. But he is at home now hopefully getting better.

“I have got Dean Bennett who I’ve used in attack and he can do a job and everyone tells me that Paul Warhurst can play up there too. I have also got Jamie Reed and Marc Williams, who is getting rave reviews in the youth team.

You have to deal with problems – if there is one – not worry about what you are going to do. I prefer not to have problems but you just have to get on with it.”

Foy will not be risked in the reserves match against Rochdale at Buckley’s Globe Way tonight, but Warhurst will be one of a host of first team players who will get a run-out.

Jim Whitley and Shaun Pejic will continue their comebacks from knee injuries, Andy Holt gets his first outing after being kept out for six weeks with a bruised bone in his knee, and Simon Spender and Michael Jones also play.

Smith has to decide whether to risk Bennett in view of the McEvilly scare, but 19-year old defender Mike Williams will not be risked because Dennis Lawrence is still troubled with a pulled chest muscle sustained against County.

But Smith is just delighted to see his injured players continue to get games under their belts.

“I don’t know whether I should risk Dean but Mike won’t play. I want to keep him back in case of Dennis who could be struggling for Saturday,” Smith added.

“It will be more good progress for Jim and Shaun. Jim is ready for the first team and Shaun is not far off, he just needs full games as he has only had one 90 minute outing, though I know I could stick him in if I needed to.”