Double striking blow for Tranmere

Aug 29 2007 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Daily Post

TRANMERE ROVERS face the prospect of being without powerful strikers Gareth Taylor and Calvin Zola over the coming weeks.

X-rays confirmed that Taylor fractured a rib in Tranmere’s 2-0 win over Brighton last weekend.

The experienced target man could be on the sidelines for anything between a fortnight and six weeks, depending on how quickly the fracture heals.

Zola suffered a hamstring strain last Friday, causing him to miss the Brighton game. Manager Ronnie Moore said striker from the Democratic Republic of Congo could be on the sidelines for a further 10 days.

Moore said: “From being strong in the striking department we’ve suddenly lost our two big men and we’re down to Chris Greenacre and Craig Curran.

“They are both good players but what we don’t have now is the option of a bit of strength to play alongside them.”

Taylor was hurt in a fall late in the second half of his first starting appearance for Rovers this season.

The 34-year-old had replaced Zola, who was forced out of contention after suffering the hamstring injury in training last Friday.

Moore said: “There is not a great deal we can do about Gareth’s injury. We can’t strap it or treat it. It has to heal naturally.

“The fracture is right under his armpit so it is in a position which makes it difficult for him to breathe and may affect him sleeping.

“We have no clear idea, time-wise, how long the it will take to heal but it could be a substantial amount of time – at least a fortnight and possibly as long as six weeks.

“Calvin’s problem is going to be another 10 days on top of the time he has missed so far.”

The injury may cause Moore to adjust his plans for Tranmere’s visit to Yeovil on Saturday, when they will be seeking to post a third successive League One victory following wins over Gillingham and Brighton.

The future of winger Steve Davies should be a good deal clearer by the time Tranmere take the field at Huish Park.

The teenager has been the subject of at least one transfer offer by Leeds United, which was understood to be declined by Tranmere.

The Yorkshire club may come back with a new offer for Davies. A deal would have to be signed by Friday, when the August transfer window closes.

Moore said yesterday that he had been dealing with approaches by other clubs for a number of his players this summer.

“People have come in for other players here and we have turned down one or two bids,” Moore said. “It’s not all about Steve Davies.

“I have tried to sign the lads that we want to keep here on longer contracts.

“We were successful with Chris Shuker and we’re been trying to sign Steve Davies on a new contract for the best part of a last five months. We are waiting for the agent to come back to us. The ball is in their court.”

Davies’ current deal at Prenton Park is due to run out next June.

While Moore says he is keen to keep his best players at Prenton Park, the financial pressures on Tranmere to sell are becoming stronger.

The first round Carling Cup exit to Stockport this month closed off another avenue of potential revenue for the club and a home attendance below 6,000 for the Brighton game was disappointing, albeit at a time when holidays keep some regular fans away.

Meanwhile Brighton have dropped plans to appeal against the sending-off of defender Martin Whing in the game against Tranmere last Saturday.

Brighton manager Dean Wilkins believed Whing did not make contact with a tackle on Davies that led to his second booking – and the red card – late in the game. But a video recording of the incident was inconclusive.