Achterberg poised to stick between posts

Sep 25 2007 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Daily Post

TRANMERE area ready to ask goalkeeping coach John Achterberg to hold onto the first-team gloves for the home game against Northampton Town this weekend.

The big Dutchman won’t need a second invitation to show why he still believes he can be No1 at Prenton Park.

Manager Ronnie Moore suspects Danny Coyne, his regular first choice this season, won’t be ready in time to face the Cobblers after missing last Saturday’s visit to Cheltenham with a calf strain.

And while Moore was disappointed to discover that Coyne’s injury did not show a significant improvement over the weekend, he rates the experienced Achterberg as a more than able deputy.

Moore said: “I think we have got two of the best goalkeepers in this division here in Danny and John.

“John has a job with us as a coach but he still sees himself as a goalkeeper first. He is mentally tuned in to playing. Although he is number two at the moment he does not want to stay as number two, he wants to play and be number one. He might get the opportunity now.”

Moore added: “The mentality of John is he is a winner. He is disappointed when anything goes past him. He does not just take that attitude in games on a Saturday. He is the same in training during the week – and that’s pleasing for me to see as a manager.”

Wales international Coyne failed a fitness test before Tranmere’s 1-1 draw at Cheltenham, making way for Achterberg to start a league game for the first time this season.

Moore said: “We thought Danny’s injury might have cleared up a little bit over the weekend but when he came in on Monday it was still a bit sore and he can’t hop on it.

“It was a bit of bad news we did not want to hear and it will be touch-and-go whether he is going to be right by Saturday.

“It could be another chance for John Achterberg to do what he is good at.”

Moore insists Achterberg stood no chance of stopping Cheltenham’s goal, headed in a close range by Gavin Cairns. He said: “John did not have a lot to do and was unfortunate not to come away with a clean sheet on Saturday.”

The manager reckons 17-year-old prospect Shane McWeeney will have benefited from the experience of sitting on the first-team bench at Whaddon Road.

He said: “Young Shane has not played at first-team level and has only a few reserve team games under his belt so sitting on the bench for the Cheltenham game will settle him down a bit. I think it will bring him out of his shell a little bit.”

Meanwhile, Rovers will give Calvin Zola all the time he needs to make a full recovery from a hamstring strain.

Moore insists he won’t take another risk with the striker from the Democratic Republic of Congo, who aggravated the injury in a failed comeback attempt at Carlisle just over a fortnight ago.

Moore said: “Calvin is making progress but we have got to be right with him. I don’t think it any good taking a gamble and running the risk of losing him for another six weeks.

“Calvin is doing a lot of work with (physio) Les Parry to strengthen the hamstring so we can hold up to the twisting and turning, running and sprinting he has to do when he plays up front.”

Tranmere are cutting the price of admission for 17-22-year-olds to just £5 for the League One fixture against Crewe at Prenton Park next Tuesday (October 2).

Chief executive Mick Horton says the special discount is designed to encourage university and college students to games at Prenton Park.