By Maguire-Drew unlikely to start with fitness concerns
New Grimsby Town signing Jordan Maguire-Drew is unlikely to make his full debut on Saturday against former side Dagenham & Redbridge, however may come on off the bench.
The winger signed on a free transfer in the week following his surprise release from fellow National League side Woking.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Paul Hurst has praised the player’s quality but has said that he “has some work to do” regarding match fitness if he is to properly fit in with the team’s style of play.
Town will still be without three other wide men for the trip on Saturday as Max Wright is yet to return to full training, while Sean Scannell and Joel Grant are still not match fit.
Grant and Scannell have had injury-plagued campaigns this season, with neither having started a game so far this season and the latter only featuring once – during the FA Cup defeat at Kidderminster.
Fans’ favourite John McAtee could make a welcome return to the starting XI, however, possibly benefiting from the extra break due to the postponed game last week.
There are two unnamed injury concerns Paul Hurst has to deal with which may prevent expected names to appear against Dag & Red.
Both sides will see Saturday’s meeting as a must-win as they go through equally-turbulent spells of form.
The Mariners sit just four points behind leaders Chesterfield, but are just two away from dropping out of the play-off places.
With just one win in the past six games, in all competitions, last week’s postponement could be seen as a blessing in disguise if it has given the players more time to recover and reflect on their recent form.
Dag & Red, themselves, have just one victory in their past seven games in all competitions.
They played last weekend against an in-form Notts County side and narrowly lost 2-1, with Paul Hurst saying “they could easily have got something” from the game.
A win will not be easy for Grimsby but it is desperately needed before a tricky festive period featuring games against key promotion rivals.
After Saturday, they face league leaders Chesterfield before an FA Trophy game against high-flying Stockport County with the rearranged Boreham Wood tie just three days later.
(Image courtesy of Sam Strandt / Grimsby Town FC)
