Rebels rocked by injuries

23/11/2007

FC UNITED have been stunned with news that skipper Dave Chadwick could be out for the season with cruciate ligament damage.

And with goalkeeper Sam Ashton a "serious doubt" and Rob Nugent suspended as well as suffering from injury, the Rebels go into tomorrow's crunch Gigg Lane clash with promotion rivals Bradford Park Avenue with big defence problems.

Manager Karl Marginson has moved to plug one of the gaps by drafting in 6ft 1ins former Southport and Nantwich centre half Danny Jarrett from Northwich Vics.

With last season's 45-goal top scorer Stuart Rudd and influential midfielder Josh Howard also missing until the New Year, Marginson will be without four of his six contracted players .

Phil Priestley is ready to step in for Ashton, who has a knee problem picked up in last week's 3-0 defeat at Bamber Bridge, the heaviest away loss in the club's history.And Avenue inflicted FC's heaviest home defeat, a 4-1 FA Trophy mauling last month.