SCAN FOR MAGPIES SKIPPER DOYLE
BUT WINGER ROBERTS GETTING CLOSER TO RETURN FOR MAGPIES
NOTTS County skipper Michael Doyle is set to undergo a scan on a calf injury.
But new Magpies head coach Ian Burchnall revealed winger Callum Roberts is inching closer to a return.
Doyle hobbled off at the end of Saturday’s FA Trophy penalty shootout defeat against Hornchurch as the Magpies’ dream of reaching Wembley was shattered by the parttimers.
The injury that Doyle sustained was not as a result of a tackle and Notts are unsure how serious it is. But he will definitely miss tonight’s National League clash against Aldershot Town at Meadow Lane (7pm).
He will now be assessed as Notts wait to learn the extent of the damage.
Burchnall said: “Everybody came through except for Doyley, who picked up that injury really late in the game. “There’s been no diagnosis yet. “He came in today (Monday) and he was feeling a bit better than he was.
“I spoke to him on the phone on Sunday and it was really stiff and sore.
“He felt a bit better this morning. I think they’ll give him a scan just to have a check, then obviously we’ll know more after that. But at the moment, we don’t know the extent of it.
“Other than that, I don’t think there are any problems that are pressing for the next game. We’re having some progress with some of the boys that are out as well. Slowly everybody’s getting there.”
While Burchnall will be without his captain tonight, there was encouraging news regarding star winger Roberts.
The former Newcastle United wide man has been back in training as he attempts to make another long-awaited comeback from injury.
Roberts has played only seven games this season.
Burchnall revealed the signs are looking promising as Notts fans await the return of one of the best talents in the National League.
“Callum has made good progress and has trained,” he said.
“With someone like that we have to take it each day at a time and we don’t want to rush it to get any setbacks.
“But we’re hopeful that he’s not too far away. I’ve done my research on him and he’s a very talented boy.
“And he’s very important for the creative element in the final third. But while he’s out, there are opportunities for others to step up and take that role and make it difficult to come back in.
“We have other good players as well. When he’s back, what I like is the added competition that it brings, and that should bring out the qualities in everybody.”