ALTY ON TRAIL OF PREMIER LEAGUE LOANEES
ALTRINCHAM boss Neil Young is lining up a raid on the Premier League after admitting that injured skipper Shaun Densmore is “a million miles” away from a return.
The former England C star, 27, has not played since damaging medial ligaments during a 2-0 defeat by Aldershot in October.
Following an operation in January, specialists assured Densmore he would be fit to start the 2016-17 campaign, but the full-back is still suffering discomfort and will have a scan next week to determine the cause.
“Shaun has had a lot of pain in a different area of the knee,” said Young,“but hopefully the scan will show it’s just a bit of tendinitis rather than anything serious.
“Either way, he’s a million miles away. He hasn’t done anything in terms of pre- season. He’s had a lot of wastage in the thigh muscle and has got to strengthen that leg to the extent where it is capable of withstanding a full-blooded challenge.
“Realistically, even if the scan shows he’s basically OK, you are talking about the end of September or early October before he’ll be in a position to return to the team.”
As a result,Young now needs cover in the full-back areas and is currently in talks to sign a couple of topflight Under-21s.
“It's still pretty early in their pre-season programme and they are not likely to let lads out yet,” he said.
“But I have spoken to clubs about possibilities and, as we get closer to it, there might be one or two more coming in.
“I’m hopeful we can get something done.”