Injury woes pile up early on for Heed

GATESHEAD player-manager Mike Williamson is concerned about the number of injuries his squad has suffered in pre-season, writes JEFF BOWRON.

The Tynesiders continue their warm-up campaign at Hebburn Town tonight (7.00) with several players set to miss out.

Already without long-term injured striker Lewis Knight, fellow summer signing Aaron Martin has played only half an hour since his move from Harrogate Town.

Another new boy Dan Jarvis missed Saturday’s impressive 4-0 win at Spennymoor Town, the Heed’s first in pre-season.

Williamson (below) has not featured in the last two games and will hold a head count ahead of the short trip to South Tyneside.

He said: “We have just been hit massively by injuries and that is the be all and end all.

“Tom Allan came off with cramp on Saturday, so hopefully he will be okay and Robbie Tinkler felt his groin – hopefully that will- not be anything serious.

“We had a couple drop out at Spennymoor.

“I will be surprised if they are involved at Hebburn and Adam Campbell has a massive lump on his foot.

“We will have to assess that and make sure there is no structural tissue damage there, but hopefully he will be okay.

“The disappointing thing is just the injuries but other than that the work we have got into the lads has been really good.

“We just have to be careful as going into the first game of the season is when you want to hit your levels.

“We want to be as close as we can be to having a full squad available for the trip to Dagenham.”

Advance tickets for Saturday’s first,

and probably only, home friendly against Harrogate Town are on sale online, while tickets will also be available on the gate.

As it stands that will be Gateshead’s sixth and final pre-season game unless they can find suitable opposition for the

following weekend.