Davies blow opens the way for Tranmere youngsters

Oct 5 2007

MANAGER Ronnie Moore is prepared to give Tranmere’s own young hopefuls a chance before looking in the loan market for a replacement for Steve Davies.

“There are opportunities there for one or two people,” Moore declared as he considered the selection options for Rovers’ League One visit to Southend tomorrow.

Right-winger Mike Jones, 20 and left-sided full- back/midfielder Carl Tremarco, 21, stand to gain most in terms of first-team opportunities from the long-term absence of Davies, who must spend the remainder of the season recovering from a cruciate ligament injury.

Davies, 19, made the most of Moore’s summer decision to hold back on signing a new left-sided attacking player by making the position his own with a series of compelling performances this season. Now the manager is once again looking for an internal solution – at least to start with.

Moore said: “In terms of replacing Steve we will look at what we have the club. There are options for me to look at.

“Mike Jones came in and played on the left for most of the Northampton game and against Crewe in midweek.

“I would rather have a natural left-footed player out there but is difficult finding them. I thought Mike Jones acquitted himself well in those two games. He and Chris Shuker on the other wing swapped over from time to time.

“Carl Tremarco can play the left midfield role away from home. At home we need a more attacking player, which is why we went for Jones. That’s no disrespect to Carl but he is a left- back rather than a winger.

“There is food for thought. We will see how it goes over the weekend and take it from there.”

Moore says he is confident Davies will overcome the shock and disappointment of sustaining a long-term injury just as his career was lifting off.

The manager was eager to point out that cruciate ligament injuries are no longer the career- threatening calamities they were in the past. Recovery times are shorter and, with the benefit of modern surgery techniques, players are likely to return in better physical shape than before.

Moore said: “This is a blow to Davo. Fortunately he is a positive lad. With his family behind him and (physio) Les Parry working with him, he can come back stronger than ever.

“These days players come back from this injury fitter, stronger and better than they were before. In the past, when I was playing, a cruciate ligament injury could mean a player’s career was finished. It happened to a promising player here called Bobby Tynan. “The surgeon doing the operation says he is confident Davo will come back stronger.”

Moore added: “It will be difficult for Davo. He is gutted that six months of his career will be gone but he’ll still have 15 years left when he comes back. It’s not the end of the world.”

Davies was wearing blade-style soles on his boots when he suffered the injury early in the 2-2 draw with Northampton at Prenton Park last Saturday.

Moore wonders whether modern boot designs have anything to do with the increased incidence of cruciate ligament injuries to professional players in recent years.

He said: “I’m not sure what causes these injuries but I do wonder about the blade type soles of modern boots.

“Players are getting those injuries from just a standing fall. I would much prefer it if our lads were back to wearing boots with six studs under them. You did not have so many of these type of injuries when I played.

“It would be interesting to see some research done on what kind of boots players were wearing when these injuries happened.”

Rovers expect to be without number one goalkeeper Danny Coyne for a fourth time at Southend although the Wales international is now stepping up his recovery from a calf injury.

Goalkeeping coach John Achterberg will deputise again. Striker Calvin Zola, on the come back road from a hamstring strain, may make the trip to Roots Hall as a substitute.