Shuker injury blow but squad is raring to go against rivals

Oct 29 2007 by James Pearce, Liverpool Daily Post

TRANMERE Rovers winger Chris Shuker is doubtful for Saturday’s League One trip to promotion rivals Nottingham Forest.

Manager Ronnie Moore was hoping to welcome back the 25-year-old for Friday’s emphatic 3-0 win over Huddersfield after he missed the defeat at Swindon with a thigh injury.

But Liverpool-born Shuker pulled up in training and is now back on the treatment table.

“Chris is struggling and we don’t know how long that’s going to be – maybe a week, maybe a fortnight,” he said.

“He had done nothing for 10 days and then trained on Wednesday but pulled up on Thursday.

“Calvin Zola also got a knock on his medial ligament – it’s getting a bit physical in training which is nice to see. Everyone is competitive and desperate for games.”

Friday’s win put Rovers top of League One although they slipped to third place following victories for Carlisle and Swansea on Saturday.

Man of the match Paul McLaren led the way with his first goal of the campaign and second-half headers from Shane Sherriff and Gareth Taylor wrapped up the points.

Moore said: “It was nice to bounce back after the defeat at Swindon and I thought we were the best side.

“I was just a bit disappointed that when we went 2-0 up we tended to sit a little bit when we should have kept on the front foot.

“It was good to see McLaren score and he needs to get more goals because he has a terrific shot on him.

“There were two great finishes from set-pieces and it’s nice when you work on things in training and then see the rewards.

“The clean sheet is pleasing and overall we defended well, limiting them to very few shots. When Danny (Coyne) was called upon he made good saves.”

As Rovers’ players departed to a standing ovation from the home fans, it was all a far cry from two weeks before when they were booed off after a goalless draw with Walsall.

Moore said: “I think the fans know we are all trying to win this league and we all want more points.

“Everyone gets frustrated – do you think I went home after the Walsall game and was made up?

“It was one of those things. We are in it together and we all want the same things. If we had drawn away at Southend and then won at home against Walsall, nobody would have complained but it’s still the same number of points – we still got four from the two games.

“But we get greedy and you look to your home form to keep you up there at the top. Winning your home games certainly takes the pressure off when you go away.

“I thought the fans were good against Huddersfield and they will be good if we continue to play like that.”

Meanwhile, Moore believes there is more to come from loan signing Kevin Cooper.

The 32-year-old left winger from Cardiff City enjoyed a solid debut against Huddersfield on Friday night.

Cooper has initially joined for a month but Moore admits he has the chance to secure an extended stay.

“It’s going to take time because he hasn’t played first team football for a while and it’s a case of getting the cobwebs off him,” Moore said.

“He can play better than that but he will be pleased that he’s come into the side. He’s a naturally left-footed player who likes to drift in off the line and will give teams problems.

He’s a good player who has played at the top level and knows what the game is about. After two or three more games, we’re going to see the best of him. We will see how things work out. If Coops sets the world on fire then his stay with us will last more than a month.

“We have a decent squad and have been allowed to improve it by bringing in Kevin Cooper. If we keep going you never know what is around the corner.”

Saturday’s draw for the first round of the FA Cup handed Rovers a trip to League Two Chesterfield on Saturday, November 10. The teams last met in the FA Cup in 2003 at Prenton Park when Rovers won 3-2.

The Spireites have former Rovers striker Wayne Allison in their ranks.