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Break is a 'blessing'

Jenny Dixon
3/ 9/2008

COUNTY’S assistant manager Peter Ward believes the international break could be a ‘blessing in disguise’ for injury-hit County.

The Hatters have been allowed to postpone Saturday’s fixture against Northampton Town, owing to international call-ups for Owain fon Williams [Wales under-21s], Stephen Gleeson [Republic of Ireland under-21s] and Peter Thompson [Northern Ireland].

And Ward is hoping a weekend off will give County’s injured players the opportunity to fight their way back to fitness.

"It’s a bit of a blessing in disguise," explained Ward. "It will give us two weeks to get players fit for the Leyton Orient match."

There are currently five Hatters players out injured. Jason Taylor, who is still at least a month away from full fitness after breaking a bone in his foot, and Dominic Blizzard and Tommy Rowe, who both have hamstring injuries.

The club are waiting for results from a specialist to tell them exactly how long Matty McNeil and Johnny Mullins, who both injured a knee against Hartlepool, will be out for.

Should the news be bad County will look to dip into the loan market.

"The injury situation is of great concern, to have so many players out at once," added Ward. "We went through it last season too. We just need to get players fit as quickly as possible and, if necessary, bring people in as we go along."

There was no movement into or out of Edgeley Park during the transfer window, although Ward admitted some of their players, including fon Williams, Michael Raynes and Jim McNulty, had attracted interest from other clubs.

Although County did not bring in any new names before the transfer window closed on Monday, it does not limit the team’s options to bring in short-term loan players.

Ward added: "The window has shut for six-month loans and permanent transfers, but in seven days’ time it will reopen for temporary loans, meaning we can bring people in for a maximum of 93 days.

"We are not in any rush to bring anyone in, but there are a few players we’re looking at."