Shrimpers boss miffed after Bass injury blow

MARK MOLESLEY said on-loan Pompey goalkeeper Alex Bass received ‘little protection’ during his Southenddebut–andthat resulted in him being forced to withdraw early from their game against Salford on Saturday.

It’s believed the 22-yearold suffered a leg injury in his maiden Shrimpers appearance – just hours after arriving on a seven-day emergency loan as cover for injured Roots Hall No1 Mark Oxley.

A planned scan will reveal the true extent of the issue.

At this moment it’s not clear whether the problem is related to the fracture Bass suffered in a collision with Blues team-mate Haji Mnoga in training at the start of January.

That prompted Pompey to bring in Exeter stopper Lewis Ward as Kenny Jackett required experienced cover for first-choice goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray.

Bass’ move to Southend, therefore, came as a surprise.

And while he impressed Molesley during his 45-minute outing, the Shrimpers’ boss rued his treatment at the hands of Salford.

He told Southend’s website: ‘We did very well getting a goalkeeper in with such late notice of the quality of Alex Bass.

‘Then he’s been upended twice (during his debut) and didn’t receive any protection which we felt he deserved.

‘Ultimately, it’s culminated in him coming off.

‘We’ll have to find out how Alex is because I thought that was a great debut for him.

‘He was very assured and calm, claimed crosses and was looking very comfortable in there.

‘There’ll be a scan and we’ll see how that is.’

Molesley conceded Southend will struggle to find a better goalkeeper than Bass if they’re forced to again dip into the loan market.

Hetoldthe Southend Echo: ‘We will have to find out how Alex is before anything else but we certainly can’t run with just one goalkeeper in Harry Seaden.

‘We will have to look to rectify that but good goalies are few and far between.

‘We struck gold with Alex but most goalkeepers are No2s and the clubs just won’t letthemout.

‘If they’re not number twos then they are very young lads but we already have a very good young goalkeeper of our own in Harry.’