Michael Rankine
advertisement
Football: Double striker blow for Shots
By Jon CouchJanuary 19, 2012
ALDERSHOT TOWN boss Dean Holdsworth is reeling from a double striker blow after Michael Rankine and Alex Rodman were both ruled out for the rest of the season.
Target man Rankine limped off with a serious leg injury at Gillingham on January 2, while wide man Rodman requires more tests on a viral infection.
Both were expected out for between four and six weeks but Holdsworth was informed this week that neither are likely a kick a ball again this term.
This is a hammer blow for the Shots boss, who is desperately trying to end a worrying goal drought which has
brought just one goal from the last eight matches.
One man who could be charged with ending the goal glut is 18-year-old Jayden Stockley, who is expected to
join the club on a season-long loan after training with the Shots this week.
At the age of 15, highly-rated Stockley became the second youngest player to turn out for AFC Bournemouth in 2009 and has been on the verges of a first-team place at Dean Court.
Indeed, he proved he could cut it at League Two level by scoring three goals in ten appearances for tomorrow’s visitors to the EBB Stadium, Accrington Stanley, this season.
Stockley could line up alongside new loan pair Josh Payne and Charlie Collins, brought in by Holdsworth from Oxford and MK Dons last week, and at least one other fresh face as the boss looks to cap a busy week
scouring the transfer market by bringing in a couple of new arrivals, especially after talks to bring in two strikers on permanent deals, fell through at the 11th hour last week.
“It’s been a busy week, Holdsworth revealed as the News and Mail went to press. “There’s been a lot going on
and I'll know in the next 48 hours if anything comes to fruition.
“Losing Ranks and Alex Rodman is a massive blow so we'll be looking to plug the gaps with a couple of new faces and Jayden is someone we are looking at this week with view to doing that job.”
Holdsworth was encouraged, however, with a muchimprove display against promotion-chasing Cheltenham where, but for that clinical touch in front of goal, the Shots could have quite easily come away with an unlikely result.
The good news is, but for Rankine and Rodman, Holdsworth has an injury and suspension-free squad to pick from for the ‘Kids for a Quid’ visit of mid-table Accrington Stanley on Saturday.
Stanley have been on a decent run of late, their 3-0 home defeat to Barnet last Saturday being their first league loss in 11 matches, so Holdsworth knows his side will have to be on their guard.
“We all all eager to turn our fortunes around and Saturday is about giving everyone a lift," the boss said. "It’s my job to do that.”
Browse Sections
