United manager Jimmy Dean provides an update on tomorrow's trip to Curzon Ashton as the Iron attempt to make it 10 unbeaten, including pre-season.
When asked for his opinion both tomorrow's game, he began by saying: “It’s going to be a really difficult game on Saturday. They haven’t lost yet, they’re going to be hard to beat and we are going to have to be at our best to get the result we want.
Having won the opening two away games of the season in what have been two very hard fought victories, Dean had this to say when reflecting on how no team will make it easy for the Iron away from home: “I think that’s the general consensus across the board. People lift their game when they play us. It’s obvious to see.
"I was no different and two teams have done it really well against us. Tamworth was a really difficult game, Rushall was a difficult game we got a couple of late goals that probably flattered the score line for us, but I think Curzon is going to be another difficult, tight game.”
When questioned on how he’s found this week’s training and the atmosphere within the squad he continued: “It’s been a good week. I think the standards in training are getting even better and a couple of the lads who didn’t have the fitness are catching up. I’m really happy with where we are at.”
During last Saturdays 3-0 win over Rushall Olympic, Iron captain Michael Clunan was forced to exit the field of play with an injury. Dean provided an update on his progres: “It’s a sore one definitely. He’s been for an x-ray which proved inconclusive, and he’s also been for an MRI. All being well, he will be at the club tomorrow morning having a fitness test and we will go from there.
“He comes from a background of moving the ball quickly, accurate passes, fast passes and playing with tempo which is where we need to be. His movements are good and that’s what we need from all the midfield three - to create space and to pick up the ball in order to play through, which is something Mikey does well, but we have got adequate replacements within the squad, and we’ll trust it.”
In other injury news Callum Roberts has been out of action since the pre-season fixture against Burton Albion. Jimmy had this to say in terms of how long it will be until we will see be seeing him again in claret and blue: “He’s been doing some running last couple of days which is really good to see. He’s come through the most of it and hopefully come Thursday and Friday next week he will be training with the team.
“If we can get a few weeks into Callum Roberts what a player we’re going to have. He shows exactly what we want to do with the football team, he’s a perfect fit for what we want to do once he’s fit but the most important thing is to keep him fit and not rushing him.”
With two games in two days, recovery is key for a quick turnaround and a return to Glanford Park on Monday. He had this to say on how the tight schedule may force changes: “We’ll have to use the squad.
"We’ll be in Sunday morning making sure the boys get a full recovery but we will change it up a little bit over the course of the two games."