INJURY ALARM

From the Echo, first published Monday 20th Oct 2003.

SEAN O'Driscoll is counting the cost of a crippling injury crisis which has cast a huge shadow over Cherries' impressive start to the new season.

Warren Feeney and Neil Young were both added to the lengthening Dean Court casualty list following Cherries' memorable 1-0 win over Division Two leaders Brighton on Saturday.

Goal hero Feeney was carried off on a spinal board with his neck in a brace after he had been struck in the face by a fierce clearance from Seagulls defender Kerry Mayo midway through the first-half.

And although an X-ray revealed the Ulsterman had not sustained any serious damage, Feeney is rated by O'Driscoll as "extremely doubtful" for the visit of Luton Town tomorrow.

The 21-year-old, who suffered a bout of amnesia after sustaining his injury, is due to see club doctor Kevin East today and will be hoping to get the all-clear to resume light training tomorrow morning.

Feeney could be joined on the sidelines by defender Neil Young who is also struggling to face the Hatters after damaging his left ankle capsule when he sat on the joint after making a tackle during Saturday's match.

Young had intensive treatment from Cherries physio Jim Marshall yesterday and will sit out training today, but is understood to be facing an uphill battle in his race for fitness.

To compound O'Driscoll's problems, central defensive pair Carl Fletcher and Karl Broadhurst and midfielder Marcus Browning are also nursing injuries and all reported to Dean Court for treatment yesterday.

Skipper Fletcher, who suffered a dead leg at Notts County nine days ago, aggravated the problem when he took a blow to the same area during the closing stages of Saturday's triumph over Brighton.

His defensive partner Broadhurst also managed to play through the pain barrier for the final few minutes after he had taken a nasty whack on his calf towards the end of the second half.

Browning, who has just returned after recovering from a nagging back problem, sustained a badly swollen ankle during a 53rd-minute challenge with Seagulls midfielder Zeshan Rehman.

Fletcher, Broadhurst and Browning will all sit out training today and are expected to face late fitness tests before O'Driscoll can name his starting line-up to face Mike Newell's side at Dean Court.

On the plus side for O'Driscoll, Warren Cummings will be available again after serving his three-match suspension, while Shaun Maher should be back in contention after recovering from a thigh strain.

However, in the wake of such a serious injury crisis, O'Driscoll could step up his search for a loan signing and is permitted to bolster his squad any time before the deadline which is three hours before kick-off.

Meanwhile, striker Derek Holmes is today due to have an operation at the Nuffield Hospital to repair a torn cartilage pad in his right knee.

Archive Home