Runcorn Linnets captain Rob Whyte will miss fixtures with Flixton and Maine Road after sustaining severe bruising to his ankle

Jan 26 2012 by Luke Reddy, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

INJURY looks set to keep Runcorn Linnets top goalscorer Rob Whyte on the sidelines for two weeks.

Whyte was stretchered off during Saturday’s 3-2 win over Squires Gate at the Millbank with a suspected broken ankle, but scans have revealed the Linnets’ captain has only sustained heavy bruising.

Paul McNally will find out the full extent of the 21-year-old’s injury when he reports for training this week, but the boss expects his hot-shot striker to be sidelined for a fortnight, ruling him out of fixtures with Flixton and Maine Road.

Whyte has hit 18 goals this season, but his absence creates opportunity for others according to McNally.

“We’ve still got Paul Prescott,” said McNally.

“It opens the door for Preccy and we’ve also got Rob Dutton and Billy Webb. As they say, one door closes another one opens. Billy’s not really played in a year so it’s a good opportunity for him.”

The injury disappointment was eased for McNally as he watched his side overturn a two goal deficit to beat Squires Gate and move into eighth in the table.

“The game went with the conditions really,” added the boss. “They had the wind and the rain in the first-half and we made an uncharacteristic error early on to give away a goal.

“We had a chat at half-time which was all about simply doing the right things. Thankfuly we did them and it paid off.

“We scored from three set pieces, so it was all about delivery and quality. I was thrilled for the lads because they worked so hard.”

The win carried Linnets to within seven points of fourth placed Runcorn Town with two games in hand, but McNally is wary of Saturday’s challenging trip to seventh placed Flixton.

He added: “We played them (Flixton) in the second game of the season and they are a very good team. Their manager plays football. Early on in the season they were the best side we played in the league. They battered us for an hour. So we’re expecting a tough game, especially up there.”