MANAGER Les Parry reckons Zoumana Bakayogo to be “the most unfortunate” player at Prenton Park after waiting two and a half months for a first senior start of the season. But the popular Frenchman’s luck may be about to change.
Bakayogo finally found his name among the first XI this week after being kept out of the left back spot by the consistency of Aaron Cresswell.
He helped Tranmere book a place in the northern quarter final of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy with a penalty shoot-out victory over Stockport County on Tuesday, after a hip injury put Cresswell out of action.
That hip injury is painful enough to make Cresswell a serious doubt for MK Dons’ visit to Prenton Park this weekend – and put Bakayogo in line for a first League One start with RoversŠsince last season.
Parry said: “Zoum did well against Stockport and we knew he would. Zoum is the most unfortunate player at the club because we have two quality left-backs here.
“The man in possession of the shirt keeps it if he performs well. Zoum is showing why he’s pushing Aaron all the time.”
Cresswell, 21, was an ever present in the side this season until he suffered a blow to the hip in the 4-1 win at Walsall last Saturday. Parry said: “Aaron’s hip is particularly sore. He tried to train on Monday and could hardly move, so he is a massive doubt for the weekend.”
Striker Enoch Showunmi, missing from the Stockport game with shoulder and calf injuries, is also a doubtful starter. “Enoch is still struggling and I would say he is a 50/50 chance for Saturday,” Parry said.
Parry admitted the towering striker was missed on Tuesday as Tranmere failed to score in the second home game in succession. “Even if Enoch is not winning things he has a presence and a threat to the opposition,” Parry said. “I thought Ian Thomas-Moore worked terrifically hard and played really well.”
Parry will weigh up a trio of options today before deciding on how to fill the gap left by the departure of defender Scott Wootton.
The 19-year-old Wootton was recalled by Manchester United yesterday after completing a month on loan with Rovers.
Parry was not offered an extension of the loan, so must find a new central defensive partner for Ian Goodison on Saturday.
The alternatives include a first senior outing of the season for Marlon Broomes, a recall for teenage prospect Nick Wood or a move back into the loan market, with Jermaine Grandison of Coventry City the top target.
Parry will want to see how Broomes reacts to a run out with the reserves at Preston yesterday – the 32-year-old’s first competitive action since suffering a knee injury during the summer.
Wood, 19, a summer signing who was released by Sheffield Wednesday at the end of last season, has already made five senior appearances this season.
Grandison, also 19, impressed during a month on loan from Coventry that was ended by a hamstring injury at the end of September. Grandison is over the injury and says he would welcome the opportunity to return to Prenton Park.
Parry said: “I will be writing to United to thank them because Scott has done a great job for us. I hope he learned something while he was here and became a more rounded player than when he first arrived.
“In the coming months, if we need a centre back because of injury, that will be the first call I make.”
Looking at the immediate priority of the MK Dons game, Parry added: “I will consider at how Marlon does at Preston, and Nick Wood, and see whether we need to bring in a player to replace Scott or not. Grandison is available and that’s a possibility.”
Birkenhead-born Wootton played his fifth game in a Tranmere shirt on Tuesday night. He helped Rovers keep a clean sheet for the first time in five games and converted one of the spot kicks that saw the home team secure a 4-3Špenalty shoot-out victory.
Tranmere’s reward is a northern quarter-final tie against Bury, to be played at Gigg Lane on Tuesday, November 9, kick-off 7:45pm.
