Sweeney facing six weeks on sidelines

PIERCE Sweeney is set for a spell on the sidelines after picking up a hamstring injury in the first half of Exeter City’s 1-1 draw with Forest Green Rovers.

The Irishman was replaced by Jake Caprice 24 minutes into the Boxing Day after pulling up, and is likely to be out of action for at least a month.

With regular Josh Key currently out after testing positive for Covid-19, and Caprice himself having only trained again at the end of this week after a recurrence of his own hamstring injury, Matt Taylor said that players may have to be flexible in where they play.

“It was serious enough he hit the ground straight away,” Taylor said, when asked about Sweeney’s injury. “We don’t know yet but when that happens, it normally a minimum of four to six weeks out.

“I was pleased Jake got through the game as he only trained two days in the week as he had a reoccurrence of the hamstring issue so have to hope he will stay fit.”

But in better news for the Grecians, goalkeeper Lewis Ward was back in the squad for the first time in two months after he picked up an ankle injury in the October 3-1 win over Scunthorpe United, with Taylor saying that he is ready and desperate to play.

And left-back Lewis Page is back fit and ready to play as well after his own injury struggles.