Newman turns to an old pal as Flahavan limps out of action

Darryl Flahavan is set to miss the next six weeks...

Flahavan was struggling with a groin strain throughout Sunday's match with Scunthorpe United, which ultimately ended in defeat for Blues by two goals to one. Both Leon Cort and Damon Searle were called into action to assist the former Woking shotstopper with his goal-kicks, but most on-lookers only perceived the injury to be minor. However, it was revealed today that had the New Years Day clash with Oxford United gone ahead, it would have been Kings Lynn-born custodian Danny Gay who would have taken his position between the sticks.

Shrimpers chief Rob Newman continued to explain that Flahavan had torn an abductor muscle in his right thigh and that the 24-year-old goalkeeper would miss the next four to six weeks of action. The enforced rest, which will not require an operation, means that Gay, who impressed during his six Nationwide League appearances in the last campaign, once again has the chance to shine. Regular observers of the Avon Insurance Combination will vouch that the former Norwich man is as reliable an understudy as could be wished for in the Third Division, and that this chance is fully deserved. Gay kept two clean sheets in five full appearances, and managed to keep out the Rochdale attack for ten minutes when Flahavan was sent off at Spotland last thirteen months ago.

The Southampton-born 'keepers injury now means that Newman must look for a replacement, although as yet no names have been revealed. Last season ex-Blues goalie Paul Sansome made an emotional return to the bench as Flahavan served out a one-match suspension against high-flying Luton Town over the festive period. With this injury more permanent, it is likely that the Southend gaffer will have to look to a young Premiership starlet or a more-experienced League campaigner struggling to command a regular place, at least on a short-term loan deal.

...whilst Daryl Sutch appears likely to establish himself by the seaside

Meanwhile, Newman has swooped for an old team-mate of himself and Danny Gay in defensive midfielder Daryl Sutch according to BBC Sport. The Lowestoft-born performer has been frozen out of action as the Canaries have marched into the play off positions in Division One, and at thirty-one years of age, he still maintains that he can do an adequate job in League football. Last season he made just twenty-one appearances for Norwich, although he did appear in both the play off semi-final at Molineux against Wolves and in the final at the Millenium Stadium against Birmingham. This time around, his contract has been terminated, and he has been forced to leave the club he joined as a twelve-year old in 1983. Having signed professional terms three years later, Sutch made his debut in the League Cup in October 1990 against Watford, and his League debut on Boxing Day against Manchester United. He also represented England at Youth and Under-21 levels, gaining four caps at the latter in 1992/3.

Sutch has made 305 League Appearances in total, contributing nine goals in that time. Both his, and the Norfolk side's, greatest achievements came in the early 1990's and his 50-odd Cup appearances for the Carrow Road club. In 1992/3 Norwich finished third in the Premier Division as it was then , and won the right to play in the UEFA Cup the next year. Having defeated Vitesse Arnhem, Sutch and Newman took on Bayern Munich in the Olympic Stadium, and won 2-1. The return leg draw set up another lucrative tie with Inter Milan, but defeats at the San Siro and in England saw the Canaries bow out bravely. Sutch's experience cannot be scoffed at, and with Kevin Maher and Stuart Thurgood both out of action on Saturday, a pre-midday agreement would see the East Anglian step straight into a blue (or red) shirt.

Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com