CHRIS McCREADY returned to Prenton Park yesterday to strengthen Tranmere’s threadbare defensive cover.
The 28-year-old centre-back, who was a first-team regular with Rovers during the 2006-07 campaign, signed a loan deal from Northampton Town that will run until the end of the season.
Manager Les Parry, armed with a “modest pot” of funds released by the board of directors this week, made his first move in the January transfer window by securing a deal on terms that were attractive to Tranmere.
Parry said: “I know Chris. I know what he can do and he is a great addition to the squad. Northampton have done well for us on the financial side. We would not have been able to afford him without their help.”
McCready, who hails from Ellesmere Port, joined the Cobblers in the summer after being released by Crewe Alexandra.
He fell out of first-team favour after Ian Sampson replaced Stuart Gray as manager at the Sixields Stadium in September.
Tranmere have been looking to beef up the defensive resources at Prenton Park since Parry took over as manager from John Barnes in early October.
The current squad includes just two specialist centre-backs, Ian Goodison and Marlon Broomes, plus teenage prospect Ash Taylor, who is alternating between centre half and central midfield roles.
Parry reckons only exceptional good fortune with injuries has prevented Tranmere’s defensive shortages from being exposed.
However, with a little money left in the transfer pot, Parry says the next target will be a striker to boost the team’s thin scoring record. Parry said: “I understand that some supporters would be wanting us to sign a goalscorer but Chris was the player who became available first and the level of defensive cover we have in the squad at the moment is not acceptable.
“We had a full-scale practice match between the first-team and reserves this week. Even without one injury in the squad, we still had to play Kithson Bain (a striker) at centre-back and Josh Macauley (a striker) at right-back in the reserve team.
“I appreciate we are doing well at the back and keeping clean sheets. We have been fortunate with our injury record up to date. It has been unbelievable. But that can’t carry on.
“The suspensions will also be kicking in so defence is the area we had to strengthen. It was no good me burying my head thinking we would somehow get through to the end of the season without losing players. It was important to put the defensive position to bed.”
Parry added: “We have strengthened in that area now and I’m happy with what we’ve got. I’ve had a word with (chief scout) Dave Philpotts and everything is now focused on finding a striker.”
McCready began his professional career at Crewe, where he spent six seasons before playing 47 games for Tranmere in Ronnie Moore’s 2006-07 side.
McCready then returned to Crewe to complete two further seasons at Gresty Road before being released last May.
He accepted an offer to join Northampton in July.
However, McCready last saw first-team action with a Cobblers at the end of November.
The defender can’t be sure of getting into Tranmere’s first-team frame in the game at MK Dons tomorrow.
Rovers kept a sixth clean sheet in 10 games in the goalless draw at Oldham in midweek, so Parry is likely to start with an unchanged backline.
Tranmere’s return to action, after the weather wiped out their first two League One games in 2010, was far from an invigorating experience and Parry is looking for a sharper display at MK Dons.
He said: “We all know the quality of the Oldham game wasn’t great and the performance wasn’t great. We are using the excuse of a big gap since we last played and not being able to train on grass for more than two weeks.
“Whether that’s right or not I don’t know. Hopefully all the cobwebs have gone and we can get back to the level of performance we were able to attain before the break.”
