FOOTBALL

New Leamington physio Pete Denham is already proving an astute signing, according to coach Liam O’Neill.
Jordan Goddard is congratulated after notching against Cheltenham.Jordan Goddard is congratulated after notching against Cheltenham.
Jordan Goddard is congratulated after notching against Cheltenham.

Denham moved to the New Windmill from Solihull Moors in the summer and has already got his hands full with several players on the treatment table following Brakes’ opening four friendlies.

Stuart Pierpoint is expected to miss tomorrow’s home friendly with Walsall with a groin problem, while Danny Newton is doubtful after receiving a kick in the 2-1 defeat to Cheltenham.

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Aron Wint is also set to miss out after tweaking a thigh muscle in Tuesday night’s friendly draw with Stratford Town, but O’Neill believes Denham will have no problem coping with his baptism of fire.

“He’s the perfect football man, very experienced and he’s been at some good clubs,” said O’Neill.

“He had some of the players in on Monday for a rub down and he’s with us Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and he’ll be a massive asset to us.”

With Stefan Moore, Joe Magunda, Lee Moore and Matt Dodd unavailable in midweek and goalkeeper Neil Collett recovering from a groin problem, Leamington were forced to supplement their squad with players from the fledgling under-21 squad.

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And O’Neill says the decision of Coventry City to pull out of next Tuesday’s friendly might actually be a blessing.

“We thought we had plenty of options.

“We wanted to get minutes unscathed and that has not really happened.

“Now we’ve got a free week after Walsall; Coventry have done us a favour.”

Despite the mounting niggles, O’Neill says the pre-season campaign has provided a worthwhile exercise with Brakes having to adapt to a variety of oppositions.

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“We faced a boisterous Staff ord side, a youthful professional Birmingham City and a strong League Two side in Cheltenham.

“Then we played a team at full strength in Stratford, who like to pass it around, with half a side.

“We’ve encountered a mix of styles of play and coped well.

“Now, hopefully, we can get closer to our starting XI against Walsall.”

One player sure to line upagainst the Saddlers is 20-year-old Jordan Goddard who put pen to paper following the clash with Cheltenham.

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The Wolverhampton-born midfielder spent two seasons as a professional at Bristol Rovers after progressing through their youth system but was one of a number of players released in May after the club dropped out of the Football League.

He is no stranger to the Conference North, having spent three loan spells at Gloucester City and Paul Holleran was delighted to get his man.

“He came to our attention last season and we’ve been monitoring him for some time,” said Holleran. “He has great potential and is a different type of player to what we already have in the squad.

“He has already shown what he can do with a good performance and a well-taken goal, so hopefully he will continue to do well for us.”