Daniels: Extending stay at Roots Hall until the Daggers home game on January 2nd
The Shrimpers on loan keeper Luke Daniels is on the verge of extending his deal past the original 28-days and stay with the club until January.
Premiership West Brom will also allow him permission to play in the first round of the FA Cup at Preston North End this coming Saturday.
Great news all round, Luke has let in just one goal in four appearances as a Shrimper, and we've won all of them.
Maybe not though for the injured Southend No.1 Glenn Morris who is out with a thight strain but was expected to be back for a couple of weeks, may be 'splinter city' for the former Borient custodian!
Sturrock told www.echo-news.co.uk: “It’s obviously very good news that Luke looks like he will be staying and will also be allowed to play on Saturday. Glenn is making slow progress from the thigh injury he picked up but the last thing we wanted to do was bring him back before he was completely ready. If we did that then we run the risk of him being out of action for even longer and we have to be careful with him. Luke has also done well since he came in and will be looking to keep that going.”
The extended period goes up to Monday, January 2nd, allowing Luke to play Preston in the cup and the next round if we win, as well as the southern semi-final stage of the JPT, and including the league games against Dagenham & Redbridge (home & away), Bristol Rovers (home), Cheltenham Town (away), Bradford City (home), Aldershot Town and AFC Wimbledon (both away).
Glenn is expected to be fit for the Rovers visit or at least for the trip to Cheltenham, though as suggested above it seems Daniels will be undroppable if he keeps up his present form!
Baggies let Luke stay: www.wba.co.uk
Sturrock: 'Daniel hasn’t trained for about 10 days now'
The Baggies originally didn't want Luke to get cup-tied which would have given Blues boss Paul Sturrock a selection problem for the man to play in goal.
The only other shot stopper in the squad, 18-year-old Daniel Bentley, has also joined the walking wounded, and Luggy admitted the teenager couldn't have been selected for the clash at Deepdale with the League One club.
Sturrock continued: “Daniel has had a back problem and hasn’t trained for about 10 days now. It would’ve been asking a lot for him to suddenly come back from that to play, especially as it would’ve been his full debut. I think it’s best for him as a young goalkeeper to continue his progression slowly, like he did by coming on against Torquay the other week. But it is good news Luke will be able to play at the weekend.”
There could be problems elsewhere for the tie with Luggy telling the Echo 'that a couple of key players are struggling with an illness ahead of Saturday's game. Wouldn't say who.'
I think we've got a big enough squad to cope with that now, and if one is Ryan, the bloke has to have a rest at sometime!
Then again, Chris Phillips earler tweeted: 'JP Kalala is back in training for Blues today. Blair doubtful for Saturday with groin problem.'
Blair key? Well, Luggs is his Dad!
Who is the best Shrimpers boss of the last 30 years?: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
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