Team news and views from Jimmy Dean ahead of Chorley test

Following a tough midweek Emirates FA Cup replay at Brackley Town in midweek, first team manager Jimmy Dean is assessing his losses ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Chorley.

United return to the league on Saturday after two games in FA competition, with the ill-effects of the two-tie encounter against the Saints seeing three players pick up injuries.

“Maxi (Kouogun), Kells (Michael Kelly) and Dion (Sembie-Ferris) were the injuries from Tuesday,” he started.

“Dion’s doesn’t look good, and he’s probably got a sustained period injured now. With Kells, we will find out a bit more tomorrow and Maxi has trained, so he’s made a solid recovery. Maxi’s was an impact injury.

“Dion’s is ankle ligaments, I believe. He’s going for a scan on Monday. He’s had an x-ray which has ruled out a break. I think it is similar to Cal Roberts’, which the medical team suggested on Tuesday.

“It’s another body that we can’t select now. The numbers (in the treatment room) are up to eight or nine. Alfie (Beestin) isn’t quite there yet, Mikey (Clunan) is still another few weeks away. Cal Roberts’  operation was successful and we’ve had good feedback from his surgeon.

“Jason Law is progressing as he was, Reagan (Ogle) is still out, and Kian Scales serves the last game of his suspension, so there’s a few missing.”

Speaking about the opposition, who are currently occupy the final play-off place with 15 points from nine games, Dean expects another tough test on the road.

“They’re in the play-offs and a couple of points behind us in the league,” he continued. 

“They’re swapping between a couple of formations, so we will prepare for both. They use the ball well and mix it up, and have some good experience in the back line. It’s going to be a difficult challenge, but we’ve got to get back on the horse now. 

“We worked hard on Tuesday night. We had six or seven players who ran their best distances of the season. It’s been really important that we’ve got the recovery right.

“The first half was split, half for us and half for them. Ross (Fitzsimons) was very good at the end of the half, making some good saves. In the second half was a little bit of a nothing game, not much in it. We looked like we were going to see it out until we got the injuries after making three substitutions. We conceded three in the last 12 minutes with nine men.

“We need to be competitive, we need to move the ball better and quicker, and we need to play with a bit more IQ, which was missing from the performance on Tuesday in particular. There’s quite a bit we can do better, and we’ve worked on that.”