Surgery fear for Smalley

Forward facing spell on the sidelines

ATHLETIC have been dealt a new injury blow after learning Deane Smalley may need surgery on his back.

Dave Penney has revealed the 20-year-old forward could be out for up to three months.

Smalley has a damaged disc and there is every likelihood an operation will be required.

However, the problem is not career-threatening and medical experts will now deliberate on what is the best course of action to take.

Smalley’s pre-season was disrupted initially by a groin strain, The back problem, which has troubled him for some time, flared up on the eve of the new campaign.

The absence of Smalley is a major loss. He has been a first-team regular in the last two seasons, making a total of 84 first-team appearances in that period.

Penney has also disclosed that the injury to Smalley influenced his decision to sign winger Joe Colbeck from Bradford City, who will bring more width to the team.

Athletic were today having a roll call of players as they prepare for tomorrow’s Coca-Cola League One game at home to Hartlepool.

Penney has 10 professionals on the sidelines and he freely admits he has never experienced such a lengthy casualty list with less than one month of a new season completed before. (See panel above).

Penney had just 11 senior players available for Tuesday’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tie against Accrington Stanley. All five substitutes were players aged 18 years and under.

But the Athletic chief is expecting some of the absentees to be back for tomorrow night’s game.

Jon Worthington (ankle) and Kelvin Lomax (groin) look to be winning their battles for fitness, while Keigan Parker and Andy Holdsworth, who have been struck down by the virus which has swept through the youth team, could also return to provide more selection options for Penney.


Casualty list

Joe Jacobson: Pelvic joint

Andy Holdsworth: Virus

Kelvin Lomax: Groin

Liam Dawson: Broken hand

Paul Black: Hamstring

Jon Worthington: Ankle

Chris Taylor: Pelvic joint

Rob Purdie: Pelvic joint

Deane Smalley: Back

Keigan Parker: Virus