STANLEY boss John Coleman wants to have a selection headache for two tricky away ties.
The Reds visit League Two pacesetters Wycombe tomorrow and then promotion chasers Shrewsbury on Tuesday.
With the transfer window closing on Monday at 5pm, he is hoping to have held off interest in Andy Procter - there have been bids from Rochdale and Macclesfield and both clubs say it is now in Stanley’s hands - and hot property Jimmy Ryan while boosting his own squad.
Following the addition of loan signings winger Kallum Higginbotham from Rochdale until March and striker Craig Lindfield, from Liverpool, for the rest of the season, Coleman was trying to tie up a deal with a Premiership club for a pacey teenage midfielder on a month’s loan as the Observer went to press.
“I have been chasing this player for a year and he is talented with a good pedigree. He is fast and can play on the wing, midfield and up front,” said the Reds boss.
“If he signs up, it could mean I have selection problems which will be nice as the team has been picking itself recently.
“It is what we need though. The games are coming thick and fast now and we have got to kick on.
“We will have a reasonable squad with the three recent loan signings and the players returning from injury.
“Peter Cavanagh (calf) is touch and go for this weekend, Leam Richardson (pelvis) came on on Tuesday, John Mullin (ankle) is back in training next week and Robbie Williams (knee) is back in training the week after.
“When we get all these back there is a decent sized squad.
“We know all about Kallum and he will be a good asset for us while Craig is a good lad. He was on the bench against Morecambe on Tuesday and he understands the situation and when he gets his chance I am sure he will grab it with both hands.”
Coleman said the deal to bring Rostyn Griffiths back to the FES on loan from Blackburn was in Rovers ‘hands. It could still happen - but is up in the air.
He continued: “It is a shame as when we had Rostyn and Terry Gornell on loan with us, we were playing well and I think this season we are playing better football than last season.
“But we are not getting the results. Injuries and the end of loans has made it stop-start and that has set us back.
“Hopefully we can get back to competition for places and that should make us stronger and I do honestly believe that we should be in a higher league postition than we are.
“But we are where we are and we have got to keep battling.”
The 18th placed Reds are unbeaten in three games following their 1-1 draw with Barnet on Saturday and an enjoyable 1-0 win over local rivals Morecambe on Tuesday night.
Leaders Wycombe have only won once in six outings and scraped a last gasp win at the FES this season - but Coleman knows they will represent a big hurdle to overcome.
“They beat us at home and I don’t think they deserved to so we will be looking to put one over on them.
“We won there last year so there is no reason why we can’t go and win there again. We have got to go and give our best and hopefully get a positive result.
“Morecambe was a good result but I won’t be kidded as there have been too many false starts for us.
“But we are on a three game unbeaten run and, considering the poor form we had in the run up to Christmas, that is not too bad for us and we have got to kick on.”
Paul Simpson’s sixth-placed Shrewsbury on Tuesday represent another tough encounter with the New Meadow a real fortress - with 10 wins out of their 13 games at home.
“They have done particularly well at home,” said Coleman. “And we know they will be out for revenge after we beat them earlier in the season.
“But, like Wycombe, we go there in confident mood and with no fear.”
STANLEY’S clash with Darlington, postponed twice, has been rearranged for Tuesday 24 March.
