City facing defensive crisis for Gainsborough (From Worcester News)

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City facing defensive crisis for Gainsborough

8:00pm Tuesday 31st January 2012

By Steve Carley »

WORCESTER City are facing up to the possibility of being without three central defenders for Saturday’s visit of Gainsborough Trinity.

New signing Stuart Whitehead, Lee Ayres and Jacob Rowe were all injured during Monday night’s 1-1 draw with Histon and are not certain to feature against their fellow Blue Square Bet North play-off chasers at St George’s Lane.

Whitehead, who only made his City debut against Colwyn Bay 10 days ago, pulled his hamstring during the second-half, while Ayres only made it to half-time because of a shoulder problem.

Former Birmingham City youngster Rowe, who switched from right-back to join substitute Ryan Clarke at centre-half in the reshuffle, is also struggling with an ankle injury.

Although it is too early to determine how long the trio will be out for, manager Carl Heeley is expecting to be forced into changes for the Gainsborough clash.

“Hopefully Jacob will be OK but Stuart is looking a major doubt,” he said.

“It’s hard to tell with a hamstring but it’s certainly brought on by fatigue which is frustrating because he’s been outstanding for us.

“It was a long trip to Workington and a heavy pitch on Saturday and 48 hours later its taken its toll on him unfortunately.

“Lee Ayres has got a shoulder injury, hopefully it will settle down but potentially we’ve lost three central defenders.

“On the plus side, Rob Elvins is available again so that’s good news for us.”

Left-back Ellis Deeney, another January recruit, has missed the last two games with a throat blister and remains doubtful for Trinity.

City will be looking to end a run of six matches without victory against the Lincolnshire side and Heeley believes his team is heading in the right direction.

He said: “We are frustrated with how the results have been but we are trying incredibly hard.”