Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Friday 7 November 2008

7 November 2008

Your Guest Diarist asked the question yesterday. And blow me down, the Town manager answered it in a matter of hours. Despite the Telegraph reporting a couple of days ago that Richard Hope "is sidelined with a long-term injury" Mr Re-Newell told his interviewer on Mariners World that Mr Hope is fit and raring to go on Saturday. He added that skipper Heywood hadn't trained all week and so must be very doubtful but would be given every chance to shake off his sulk and to be considered for selection on Saturday. Newell's choice of words to follow this might be considered unfortunate: "but if he is injured we are in a stronger position than this time last week". No doubt Mr Newell was referring to the return of the excellent Atkinson and the large dark horse that is Hope. Or maybe he wasn't.

Newell also responded to his interviewer's question about signings to confirm that he is expecting one or even two more players to join the squad in the short term. This, of course, is after the arrival of Atkinson, Kalala and, yesterday, none other than Adam Proudlock - the perma-tanned fat bad boy who knows where the back of the net is so we don't mind him coming even though he shunned us in 2004 saying he couldn't be arsed to play through a relegation struggle. OK, take a deep breath and we'll carry on, gentle reader. Oh, hang on - he wears white boots as well, as I recall.

Proudlock has played eleven times for Darlo this season, and has reputedly "been working hard" on his fitness over the past month - possibly because he woke up one morning, realised he had completely stopped scoring and might soon be out of work at the beginning of a major worldwide slump. It would seem that he will start for Town tomorrow but who will partner him (if anyone) is a subject for debate. Verbal analysts may have noted that Newell listed his strike partner options in this order: Jarmo, Northy and Peter Bore (the man too straight to allow himself a nickname?).

Poor old Morecambe are, bedevilled with loads of injuries but their official site provides little insight into whether any of the nine injured first teamers will make it tomorrow. Top scorer Rene Howe is definitely out with a hamstring thingy though, as is Man-Ure reject and supposed danger man Mr Twiss. Morecambe were flattered by the 1-0 defeat in the paint cup to Tranmere on Tuesday - their goalie, Roche, pulling off four top saves to keep the score down. Methinks if ever Town are going to win again then tomorrow might be the day. But keepers always play out of their skin against Town these days - it's the law, so I will promptly revise that forecast downwards a bit.

Well, that's it for this week, folks - let me know if you spot Danny North giving Adam a tour round the fast food outlets in Meggies won't you? See yer.