Phillips: 'I'm hopeful I'll be OK for Accrington Stanley'

Last updated : 12 August 2011 By westfield shrimper

Phillips: Ready for comeback

Phillips: 'The physio decided it was best for me to come off'

Oh no, shouted the Roots Hall faithful in unison as they saw last season's sicknote centre-back Mark Phillips hobble down the tunnel at half-time against the Borient Tuesday never to be seen again, was that it for this campaign as well, especially as he was seen clutching the groin area that kept keeping him out before.

Not the case says the former Brentford skipper, in fact he still hopes he'll make it against Accrington Stanley in the Shrimeprs second League two match of the season Saturday afternoon.

Phillips told www.echo-news.co.uk: “I felt something tighten up in my groin towards the end of the first half in the Orient game but I’m hopeful I’ll be OK for Saturday. The physio decided it was best for me to come off to stop the injury getting any worse so it was a precautionary measure. It is still a little tight but it’s improving all the time and I just hope it keeps on getting better because I want to play. I haven’t been getting down about it. I actually wanted to carry on but you stiffen up more at half-time and I had to be sensible about it.”

And Blues boss Paul Sturrock is going to give him every chance to get fit, not surprising seeing as Mark's skipper and fellow centre-back Chris Barker will face a late fitness test to see if he's fit to play, a bit of a shock that one, while Bilel Mohsni will not travel as he needs some rest during Ramadan.

Luke Prosser centre-half and Peter Gilbert in at left-back?

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