Post by Taxigirl on Dec 16, 2005 11:02:29 GMT
www.leedsunited.com
United will go into Saturday's game at Wolves without a specialist right-back due to injury and suspension.
Gary Kelly is suspended for the game after picking up five yellow cards for the season in last week's defeat to Cardiff, whilst his most obvious replacement, Frazer Richardson, has failed to recover from knee ligament damage in time.
It leaves manager Kevin Blackwell having to use a player out of position, and the likely candidates are 18-year-old centre-half Simon Walton who last played there against Sheffield United last season, Portuguese defender Rui Marques who made his debut for the club at right-back, or Sean Derry who has also filled in when necessary.
Midfielder Derry was able to return to training a week ahead of schedule on Thursday after spending part of his rehabilitation inside an oxygen tent which has helped to speed up his recovery from a hamstring injury.
"It's uncanny that we should lose a player to suspension and then his stand-in or competition for that place is also ruled out with injury," said Blackwell.
"But we still have options and are able to keep everyone guessing."
Blackwell is unable to look further down the ranks after youngsters Simon Madden and Phil Stansfield were both injured playing for the reserves.
Fortunately for Leeds fears of a defensive crisis have been eased by Dan Harding returning to training after suffering heavy bruising against Cardiff that had threatened to keep him out of the Molineux game.
Blackwell is still waiting to see how Richard Cresswell has reacted to his first 45 minutes of competitive action for two months with the reserves on Wednesday evening before naming him amongst the substitutes.
Cresswell suffered a ruptured knee ligament on only his second full start for the club but has returned to action a few weeks ahead of schedule.
Striker Rob Hulse went for an injection in midweek to ease the pain he has been feeling through a persistent hip problem, and he has now been unable to train in midweek for the fourth consecutive week. It is hoped he will though, once again, be able to put himself forward for selection.
United will go into Saturday's game at Wolves without a specialist right-back due to injury and suspension.
Gary Kelly is suspended for the game after picking up five yellow cards for the season in last week's defeat to Cardiff, whilst his most obvious replacement, Frazer Richardson, has failed to recover from knee ligament damage in time.
It leaves manager Kevin Blackwell having to use a player out of position, and the likely candidates are 18-year-old centre-half Simon Walton who last played there against Sheffield United last season, Portuguese defender Rui Marques who made his debut for the club at right-back, or Sean Derry who has also filled in when necessary.
Midfielder Derry was able to return to training a week ahead of schedule on Thursday after spending part of his rehabilitation inside an oxygen tent which has helped to speed up his recovery from a hamstring injury.
"It's uncanny that we should lose a player to suspension and then his stand-in or competition for that place is also ruled out with injury," said Blackwell.
"But we still have options and are able to keep everyone guessing."
Blackwell is unable to look further down the ranks after youngsters Simon Madden and Phil Stansfield were both injured playing for the reserves.
Fortunately for Leeds fears of a defensive crisis have been eased by Dan Harding returning to training after suffering heavy bruising against Cardiff that had threatened to keep him out of the Molineux game.
Blackwell is still waiting to see how Richard Cresswell has reacted to his first 45 minutes of competitive action for two months with the reserves on Wednesday evening before naming him amongst the substitutes.
Cresswell suffered a ruptured knee ligament on only his second full start for the club but has returned to action a few weeks ahead of schedule.
Striker Rob Hulse went for an injection in midweek to ease the pain he has been feeling through a persistent hip problem, and he has now been unable to train in midweek for the fourth consecutive week. It is hoped he will though, once again, be able to put himself forward for selection.