Duo back to fighting fitness for Tranmere

Nov 10 2009 Liverpool Daily Post

TRANMERE’S former international players Alan Mahon and Michael Ricketts are beginning to reap the benefits of knuckling down to a tougher training regime at Prenton Park, caretaker manager Les Parry believes.

Irish midfielder Mahon made his first start in five games under Parry in the 1-1 draw with Leyton Orient in the FA Cup last Saturday.

Meanwhile target man Ricketts, who won his single England cap eight years ago, led the Rovers line-up for the full 90 minutes against the Londoners.

The pair showed energy levels which were not always apparent in their early weeks at Prenton Park and contributed to another encouraging Rovers performance.

Parry said: “Alan and Michael are both still a little short of where we want them to be fitness wise. But they are both responding to the training regime we’ve introduced. We have almost doubled everything, not only in the time we spend on the training ground but also in the intensity of the work we do.

“Alan will be the first to admit that his form has not been great and that’s why we had left him on the bench. But he’s been a little bit brighter in the last couple of weeks and I felt it was time to make a change in midfield.

“I had a chat with Alan and although he’s not back to his best, he’s certainly back to the Alan Mahon we know.”

Parry admits both Mahon, 31 and Ricketts, 30, were beginning to look “quite tired” towards the end of the Orient game but he ignored calls from supporters for the pair to be substituted.

“We were dominating the match with them on the field so it would have been a case of making changes for change’s sake,” Parry said.

“Obviously there are psychological benefits for a player to get 90 minutes under their belt. Michael Ricketts has not had that too many times this season so it was important he got a full game. It exactly the same with Alan Mahon. He did not play for a few weeks so getting over 90 minutes will benefit him massively.”

Parry reshuffled the side for the Orient cup tie after Rovers turned in a below par performance in the 4-1 defeat at home to Swindon the previous week.

Defender Ash Taylor, midfielder Mahon and wide man Chris Shuker made positive contributions on their return to the starting lineup while Tranmere’s substitutes’ bench included team captain Ian Thomas-Moore, experienced midfielder Paul McLaren and experienced defender Marlon Broomes.

Goalkeeper David Martin, who is on a month’s loan from Liverpool, was left out altogether. That means Martin will not be cup-tied should Liverpool want to send him out on loan duty to another club later this season.

Parry said: “If you looked at our substitutes on Saturday, it was one of the strongest benches we have had in a long time. Other managers would have been thinking that we must have a decent side here.

“I think it gives up hope. I have no doubt at all that if the present players here apply themselves correctly and if we get them fit and organised, we are capable of getting it out of the pickle we are in.”