Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Tuesday 14 January 2003

14 January 2003

Michael Boulding will miss out on tonight's FA Cup third round replay at Burnley. Having been signed after the original match on 4 January, the expeditious forward is ineligible for a second bite of any subsequent cherry. Reports that Boulding's incredible pace has enabled him to warp the space-time continuum and travel back in time to sign before the deadline are ludicrously wide of the mark, as the player's lack of match fitness is preventing him getting up a full head of steam.

Burnley's excitingly monickered new signing Drissa Diallo is similarly barred from this evening's proceedings, but Ian Cox and Dean West will return from suspension. Clarets keeper Marlon Beresford is officially doubtful, while classy winger Paul Weller is still injured.

Changes may be afoot elsewhere in the Town team as Paul Groves declares his priorities to lie firmly with the Division One relegation battle and prepares to rest senior players at Turf Moor. "We'll try and put out a side that's as strong as we possibly can," he tells the Grim Telegraph, "but we daren't risk anybody getting an injury that would have major implications for the rest of our season." The paper speculates that Darren Mansaram, David Soames, Iain Ward, Wes Parker and Chris Bolder could make up a kindergarten Mariners XI this evening - and that Livvo, bizarrely, could return to the back four. Be afraid...be very afraid.