Saunders looks ahead to Spotland trip
Interim Manager Dean Saunders will have some more options when he considers his team selection for Saturday’s SkyBet League One game at Rochdale.
The squad will train at Stoke City today on their way north with new signing Anthony Wordsworth and Ryan Dickson both on the coach.
Dickson trained on Thursday after recovering from a groin injury while Wordsworth has joined on a three-month loan from Ipswich Town.
Dean Leacock (groin), Josh Simpson (hamstring) and Conor Henderson, who is out for 4-5 weeks with the ankle injury he sustained against MK Dons, are all sidelined.
Dean said: “Ryan will train with us at Stoke and I’m hoping he will be fit. We’ll also have Anthony who is going to make a big difference to us. He’s quick, tall and athletic and can play anywhere across the back four so I’m delighted he’s with us.”
Dean’s urgent need is for a goalkeeper with Brian Jensen ruled out for 2-3 weeks with a dislocated thumb.
“We’re working through several options at the moment. As well as Matty Harrold did on Saturday he won’t be in goal at Rochdale!”
Dale thumped Reds 4-0 back in September and have adapted to life in League One well following promotion last May.
Dean added: “They have an experienced manager in Keith Hill and a good tight-knit squad but we’re not going there with any fear.
"Last Saturday we would have beaten one of the best sides in the League if we’d had a proper goalkeeper so we should be confident of getting a result at Rochdale if the lads apply themselves as they have in the last two games and put in the same effort.”
