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CIRENCESTER TOWN will be without two of their senior both injured in the 8-2 thrashing by Salisbury on Tuesday night – when they take on Bristol side Paulton Rovers on Saturday.
Striker and captain Alan Griffin has a swollen knee and left-sided defender Matt Jones has whiplash and concussion.
"Alan has no bone or ligament damage but the knee is very swollen and he is hobbling around on crutches at the moment," said his brother and manager Charlie Griffin. "It's a massive blow for us because he has been in great form recently and has led by example as Captain"
"We might be lucky and it could just be two weeks or it could be long-term. We will monitor it over the next week as the swelling goes down."
"I think we will try Felipe Barcelos up top with Ben Whitehead on Saturday. He got a goal and looked sharp when he came off the bench against Salisbury"
Griffin is hoping that Jones will be absent only for two weeks
"Jonesy landed on his neck when a player he was challenging in the air arched his back and he landed awkwardly" said Griffin, "You can't be too careful with concussion and whiplash injuries but we are hoping it is two weeks maximum. Stodds (Jordan Stoddart), who also came off injured at Salisbury, should be okay for Saturday".
Of the biggest defeat in his time as manager, Griffin maintains he has already moved on.
"We were not great on Tuesday and they were good," he said. "I thought they might have a reaction to their FA Cup defeat by Poole and they did. I have dwelled on the result since Tuesday and I probably set the lads up in the wrong formation, 4-4-2 when we should have gone 4-5-1. Losing a goal after just two minutes put them straight on the front foot. I didn't get enough from my lads out there and the injuries did not help, but we have moved ion and we look forward to Saturday."
Because of his threadbare squad, also without the injured Ellis Dunton, Griffin said he has recalled both Jack Horrell and Mason Lewis from their loan spells at Longlevens.
"Jack played his first 90 minutes since pre-season due to injuries on Tuesday, and Mason who has been doing well, scored" added the boss. "I am also trying to bring players in, even loans, because we are suddenly a bit thin on the ground"
This entry was posted on 22 September 2017 at 12:28 and is filed under Miscellaneous | First Team. You can leave a response here.
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