Brian Caffarey
9:20am, Fri 26th Mar 2010
I spoke to Graham Baker earlier this morning for an update.
He confirmed that Matthew Wright has served his suspension and will be available for selection. Definitely missing again will be Jon Boardman, Jamie Slabber and Delano Sam-Yorke. Graham won’t know till later today whether Harry Arter will be fit enough to play. He had a tight hamstring at half-time on Tuesday evening and then ‘tweaked’ it in the second half.
I asked Graham about Sam Sloma’s and Jamie Hand’s departures on loan. Graham responded: “It doesn’t help players, especially senior players, to sit in the stands or on the bench week after week. They both need to play and to stay fit. If they can get a month’s football under their belts, and if we reach the play-offs, they would then be available if I needed to use them. So, the move is good for them and for the Club.”
Graham is not expecting Newport to do us any favours. “They’re too professional to give us an easy ride. They’ll be preparing thoroughly for the game and will be looking forward to it. They’ve lost Sam Foley for the rest of the season. He’s been a very good player for them in this campaign and we wish him a speedy recovery, but they’ll still be a very tough proposition, especially on their own ground, where their record is superb.”
26 March 2010