McEvilly to face City on road to recovery

By Mark Currie, Daily Post

19 December 2006

WREXHAM striker Lee McEvilly, who played the final half-hour of Saturday's 1-1 draw with Walsall, will be back in action this evening when Joey Jones' reserve team take on their Manchester City counterparts at Globe Way, Buckley (7pm).

The Dragons' line-up is also expected to include Michael Jones, Matt Crowell, Simon Spender and Gareth Evans, who were all unused substitutes against the League Two leaders, but manager Denis Smith accepts the spotlight will be firmly focused on McEvilly, who hasn't started a first-team match since April when he suffered a second break of a bone in his foot.

With Neil Roberts and Juan Ugarte nursing ankle and hamstring injuries respectively and loan striker Kevin Smith sidelined at the weekend by a knee problem, the Racecourse boss has promoted teenager Marc Williams to play alongside Chris Llewellyn, but he insisted McEvilly's rehabilitation could not be rushed.

"We'll probably give Lee 45 minutes tomorrow because he is nowhere near fit enough yet to play a full game," Smith said yesterday. "We are also working him hard in training but it is important not to overdo it, even though he can make a difference when he's on the pitch.

"We are trying to do things the right way and we will continue to be careful until he is in the right shape." to play a full part."

Sunderland man Smith is expected to be fit for this Saturday's home match against Darlington, but the manager admitted 18-year old Williams, younger brother of defender Mike, had staked his claim to continue.

"Marc would have had his first team chance earlier in the season," added Smith. "But he was away with the Wales under-19 squad at the time I needed players, which was when I brought in Kevin and Maheta Molango. That worked against Marc at the time, but I thought he did tremendously well on Saturday.

"Now, though, the challenge for him If he gets another chance this weekend is to maintain that level of performance if he is to keep his place in the side.

"Kevin should be fit for the Darlington game and all being well Lee should be involved as well, so at least I've got a few more options regarding strikers than has been the case in recent weeks."

Roberts, whose troublesome ankle swelled up again following his substitute appearance against Boston United 11 days ago, will be at Lilleshall until tomorrow for intensive treatment and Smith admitted he was as frustrated as anyone that there was no prospect of an immediate return to fitness for either his club captain or Ugarte.

"Neil's problem is particularly annoying because there does not seem to be any medical reason for what has happened.

"But there’s got to come a stage when both he and Juan start earning their keep."