Whittle doubt for trip to Wales

30 December 2005

Grimsby Town skipper Justin Whittle is the only doubt ahead of a testing trip to Wrexham tomorrow (3pm).

Whittle strained a groin in Wednesday night's derby win over Lincoln and could miss the trip to north Wales. Boss Russell Slade is hopeful he will be involved, though, and is thankful there are no other injury worries after two testing games in three days after Christmas.

He said: "It was a tough few days on two difficult pitches but fortunately we have come through relatively unscathed.

"Whitts is a doubt with a groin problem but we'll wait and see how he is before we leave tomorrow.

"Thankfully that is our only concern with Michael Reddy feeling better after a bit of flu."

The short recovery time between games has meant that the Town players have had little real training so far this week with light running and massages the order of the day.

And with both the Blundell Park pitch and the training ground at Cheapside still frosted over, the Town boss was planning on giving his side a day off to rest today.

He went on: "There's not much we can do with the pitches the way they are.

"We have done some stretching and had the masseurs at work but it is pointless getting the lads to do any proper training on slippy surfaces.

"Hopefully, a day off may give them chance to recharge their batteries ahead of two more back-to-back matches with Wrexham and Carlisle."

The extra rest may prove crucial to the Town players with their opponents having no game since Boxing Day due to their derby with Chester falling victim to the weather on Wednesday.

And Slade is preparing for a tough test against a side that has lost only once at home all season.

He said: "They have been pretty formidable at home and with our good away record, it promises to be a tight one.

"They have some good players in their side with Darren Ferguson in midfield holding them together.

"I also know about their keeper Michael Ingham after trying to bring him to Blundell Park in the summer.

"But our lads have performed magnificently over the two Christmas games and we will go there with no fear and will be looking to keep that run going."

Grimsby Town (from): Mildenhall, Croft, Whittle, Ramsden, Rob Jones, Newey, Downey, Cohen, Bolland, Kalala, Toner, Parkinson, Ashton, Hegarty, Gritton, Gary Jones, Reddy.