JC back!

Last updated : 18 November 2003 By Site Staff
Justin Cochrane!
Cochrane received a few bad knocks in Gillingham in the last match and hasn't trained since but yesterday Dario and the staff were given a massive boost by returning to training. Along with that Cochrane has had a back problem but that seems to have healed itself.

It was feared that Dario Gradi may have had to bring in a loan midfielder to help cover the midfield with Lunt being suspended there were question marks over all Justin Cochrane, captain Dave Brammer and Neil Sorvel, but assistant manager Neil Baker says Cochrane and Sorvel should be back, atleast.

"Neil didn't train yesterday with us, but he may today and he should be by Wednesday,"

"We are expecting him and Justin to be fit for the weekend. Justin's injury is not as bad as feared and he has done some fitness work, so we are hopeful."

Dave Brammer though is still having treatment for a groin strain picked up over 5 weeks ago. Dario admitted he could surprise them by going either way, in returning or getting worse.

With Kenny Lunt suspended for the game on Saturday, with Sunderland as visitors, there was a gap in the midfield on the right side with will be taen up by 20 year old Ben Rix. Rix has always been good enough to make the first team but simply not better than any of the current midfield four, apart from maybe Neil Sorvel. Dario, though, will let the tricky winger have the chance to take apart Sunderland's left side. Dario wants Rix to show he can show-off his skill and talent in games...

"Ben has tremendous skill and he is a fine talent. It's up to him to see how he can go in the game because he is improving all the time and he has made tremendous strides."

So if you're confused by the injury saga's then the midfield will simply look like this: L-R: Vaughan, Cochrane, Sorvel, Rix.