Wilkes prepares for visit of former club

Sep 4 2008 by Dave Bettley, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

LINNETS MANAGER Steve Wilkes is weighing up midfield options for Sunday’s FA Vase visit of his previous club Padiham in one of those curious twists of fate that football invariably throws up (ko 3pm).

After going out of the FA Cup on Saturday away to a side a section their senior, Linnets are under pressure to perform at Wincham Park against Wilkes’ former charges from the Vodkat League division below.

Wilkes is without his new commanders-in-chief – team skipper Steve Cunningham is unavailable for two weeks while Nehru McKenzie has started a 42-day suspension from the amateur game last season.

“They are big shoes to fill,” admitted Wilkes. “To have them both missing at the same time will be a blow but it gives others a chance to lay down a marker.

“Obviously, this is why we wanted to have a decent squad because Jay Edwards will now come into the equation with Damien Morrison and Joe McKane.

“We could also move Stuart Telfer into the middle and bring in Lee Morris wide right, where Dave Thompson can also play. So we have options.”

Linnets won’t be helped by winger Michael Young also missing the tie because of a seven-day ban resulting from Sunday football.

Wilkes expects the return of player-coach Allan Glover, the club’s specialist left-back, to restore natural balance.

The boss, who also has club captain Thomas Boden available again after shoulder trouble, added: “It is my job to take the pressure and I will take it all day long as long as it doesn’t go on to any of the players.

“There is pressure on me on Sunday because of the decision I made when I left Padiham. I stand by that decision no matter what the result.

“There are six or seven players still at Padiham from my time there and I don’t think they will need a team talk.

“They have also signed Robert Grimes, who played for us in pre-season, as we couldn’t offer him the regular football he wanted.

“It will be nice to see some old faces, I suppose, but it is a match we need to win because it’s a competition I think we can go far in.

“I just hope they can pull it out of the fire for me.”

Linnets visit Newcastle Town on Tuesday (ko 7.45pm).