‘I don’t know how we’re going to react’
Paulsgrove are all set for a return to Hampshire Premier League action this weekend.
Grove chose to postpone their Senior Division trip to Winchester Castle last Saturday after squad member Josh Miroy suffered a suspected heart attack playing Sunday football.
The 17-year-old remains in hospital but his father Alex, who also plays for Paulsgrove, has asked the team to return to action and they will host Sway on Saturday.
Grove boss Wayne Grant admitted it's impossible to predict how his squad will react when they get back out on the field with all the focus on Josh at present.
'We’re much in the same boat (on Josh’s condition),' he said. ‘His dad (Alex) has asked us to play.
‘We can’t keep postponing so we’ll be playing this weekend.
‘We have not been updated yet, he’s still in hospital at the moment, but that’s as much as we know.
‘We try to keep in contact as much as we can but Alex is very busy.’
Regarding the players’ mindset, Grant added: ‘We’re not really going to know until Saturday I suppose.
‘As managers we can try to get them prepared as best we can, but it’s just hope really.
‘You don’t know until Saturday how they’re going to react. We’ve just got to get out and put everything to one side for an hour-anda-half - that’s the way we’re looking at things.
‘A lot of players - I used to do it myself - use football as an outlet.'
Paulsgrove have not trained since their last outing - a 2-1 win over Colden Common on September 12.
That was the day before Josh suffered a suspected heart attack while playing for AFC Portchester
Reserves at King George V Playing Fields in Cosham.
Grant's side have won all three league matches this season and he just hopes his side can extend that run.
‘There were a couple of good performances, one not so good but we still won ugly,’ he said.
‘I don’t think there will be much of a team talk needed on Saturday.’