Taylor ‘50-50’ for cup-tie test

Reporter: by MATTHEW CHAMBERS
Date online: 02/11/2009

DEPLETED Athletic hope to welcome back Chris Taylor for this weekend’s home FA Cup tie against Leeds United at Boundary Park.

The wide midfielder, who scored twice against the West Yorkshire side in a 2-0 win at Elland Road last season, missed yesterday’s home defeat to Huddersfield Town after suffering a hamstring strain at Brighton.

Taylor is rated as a “50-50” chance by boss Dave Penney of returning for the first-round knock-out clash — but with a difficult picture elsewhere injuries-wise, plenty of fingers will be crossed by the management team that he makes it.

Alex Marrow, absent yesterday with a sore back he tweaked during training on Tuesday, is battling to be ready for the clash with the Coca-Cola League One leaders, though the on-loan midfielder’s availability will also rest on whether parent club Blackburn Rovers will allow him to play.

Kelvin Lomax was the other change forced on Penney for the trans-Pennine derby at Boundary Park, with the in-form defender suffering from a hairline fracture of his lower leg which was sustained at Brighton. It is unclear when he’ll be back.

Left-back Alan Sheehan has now returned to Leeds following the expiration of his loan deal. Athletic officials will talk to the Elland Road outfit with a view to getting him back for a third and final month prior to the next league game, which is Gillingham away on Saturday, November 14.

Joe Jacobson — thrust on to the bench for yesterday’s game after a pelvic problem had kept him out all season — will play in the reserve game at home to Blackpool on Wednesday night and may end up featuring as Sheehan’s replacement on Saturday.

The good news for Penney is that there were no signs of immediate discomfort after injury comebacks for Andy Holdsworth (knee) and Deane Smalley (back).

“We are having to rush players back,” admitted the Athletic manager.

“Deane Smalley was initially going to start off the bench and we had to put Joe Jacobsen on there without him having played any football at all recently.

“So it is frustrating and testing for us. We are having to chop and change and work on shapes and systems.

“But it is a challenge. And the players rose to it (against Huddersfield) and took most of it on board.”