Aldershot Town FC

Robinson in action for The Shots in 2005 - on his home debut, in which he scored, against Exeter City.
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Waddock: no Robinson agreement - yet

By Charlie Oliver
February 04, 2009

Gary Waddock has made moves to strengthen his Aldershot Town squad this week, with his side searching for their first win in more than six weeks.

Aldershot looked like a team that needed freshening up last week in the disastrous first half at home to Rochdale, when they went in 4-0 down, largely thanks to some astonishingly inept defending.

In have come defender Andy Lindegaard, aged 28, from Cheltenham Town and teenage ‘keeper Alex McCarthy from Reading, both initially on a month’s loan.

The Shots have not kept a clean sheet since winning at Barnet on Boxing Day and have conceded 11 goals across their last four matches.

Both new arrivals go into the squad for Saturday's match at Port Vale (which must be in severe danger of fallling foul of the wintry weather) and Lindegaard looks almost certain to play, at right back.

Chris Blackburn has been largely filling in in that position for the last few months and doing the best he can – but Waddock says that he has seen enough of Blackburn playing out of position.

“Right back has been a problem position all season,” said Waddock. “Chris Blackburn is a centre-half, he is more comfortable there, and that is where I want to play him.

“Andy Lindegaard can play in midfield or at right back but it’s as a right back that I see him. He’s experienced, he’s gained promotion to a higher level [with Yeovil Town] and played there too and gives us more options in a small squad.

“It’s good to get a few more bodies in, especially when we’ve been on a poor run. It keeps things ticking over.”

Blackburn is unavailable on Saturday due to a one-match ban for accumulating five bookings, which makes Lindegaard even more likely to play.

Had Blackburn been available, then he and Anthony Charles would probably have played in the middle at the back, at the expense of captain Rhys Day. He is struggling with a hamstring problem, anyway, and Waddock said he doubted that Day would be fit for Saturday.

So, Dave Winfield, recalled early from what was set to be a two-month loan at Salisbury City, may make his Football League debut, alongside Charles.

Alternatively, Ricky Newman may be drafted into central defence, after playing in midfield last week. Newman has the experience, reading of the game and leadership qualities to do a decent job at the back, as he did against Lincoln City in November, even if he would require cover for his lack of pace.

Nor has Waddock ruled out bringing in McCarthy in place of Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz.

“Mikhael and Alex are definitely competing against each other,” said Waddock. “Alex is not just here to cover Mikhael when Nikki Bull is injured. Reading would not have sent him here on loan if they did not expect him to be challenging to play as soon as he joins us.”

Both Lindegaard and McCarthy were due to join training for the first time on Thursday.

Bull, if fit, would certainly play ahead of both keepers but Waddock said that the club are no nearer discovering the extent of last season’s player-of-the-year’s groin problem.

“Nikki needs another scan,” said Waddock. “I still don’t know whether it is a short or a long-term problem.”

At least Ben Harding is fully fit - he would have been available had yesterday's postponed match against Chesterfield gone ahead - and should return to the midfield.

Up front, Marvin Morgan, who came on and scored against Rochdale, will most likely start for the first time in three weeks against Vale.

That was the first goal by an Aldershot striker since the Barnet win but Morgan defended The Shots’ strike force this week.

“There has been so much talk about the strikers but I think we need to talk about the team.

“We are not playing well and when there is not a lot of service to the strikers, we will not score a lot of goals.

“We just all need to start playing better as a team. We’ve got a good squad but our backs are against the wall right now. Let’s see what we’re made of.”

Morgan and co are likely to be joined next week by another striker: 22-year-old Jake Robinson, on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion, once the loan transfer window re-opens.

But, while Brighton have announced that the deal with go through, Waddock was far more circumspect.

“I haven’t even spoken to the lad [Robinson],” said Waddock. “Until he actually signs then there is no agreement.

“Yes, I would like to bring him in and, yes, the two chairman have had a conversation about him but, no, there is no agreement, at the moment.”

That said, if all parties involved keep their word, then Robinson, who impressed on loan at Aldershot in season 2004-05, should be added to the squad.

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