Leek lose Roberts to horror injury

Leek Town update, by Michael Cope.

Leek Town lost goalkeeper Danny Roberts to a horror injury part way through the second half at Sheffield on Saturday.

The big stopper, who has been in fine form this season, was felled in an accidental clash of heads with Sheffield’s James Knowles.

Although local paramedics attended the incident, Roberts was driven back to the Potteries for treatment where a fractured eye socket was revealed on X-ray.

Roberts’ eye is heavily bruised and remains closed and can be viewed on his Face book page – he will see a specialist on Tuesday but is expected to be out of action for at least six-weeks.

Blues Chairman, Andrew Wain visited Roberts in hospital to wish him well and commented, “Danny has done a good job for us since signing almost 12-months ago and we wish him well for a speedy recovery.

“November has been a bad month for the club so I will be pleased when it’s gone and I can look forward to a better Christmas present”, he added.

Meanwhile, Blues’ manager Lee Caswell has moved quickly to cover Roberts’ enforced absence by signing Ben Chapman from Nantwich Town.

Chapman is described as a towering, 20-year old shot stopper with a bright future who joined Nantwich during the 2009 close season from Hanley Town following trials with both Manchester City and Manchester United.

One in – one out at Harrison Park
Leek Town have released former England youth striker Dorryl Proffitt for a fourth time and he has returned to Market Drayton Town from where Leek signed him in the summer.

The much travelled front runner started just two games for Blues this term and made 5 other appearances from the bench without scoring.

In all, Proffitt played 42 games in four spells at Harrison Park and found the net just four times.

As part of the agreement in waiving the required seven days notice of approach, Market Drayton will not select Proffitt for the home game against Leek on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Blues have re-signed defender Nick Ward from Kidsgrove Athletic after serving their near rivals with seven days notice.

Ward made a welcome return to the Leek Town side at Sheffield on Saturday and ended up playing over half an hour in goal after Danny Roberts was carried off.

Coming up
Leek Town face lowly Market Drayton Town at Harrison Park on Tuesday 7.45pm looking to get back to winning ways following back to back defeats in their last two games.

Market Drayton, who currently occupy 20th place in the table with 16 points from 20 games to date, have appointed former Burnley, Stoke City and Shrewsbury Town striker Andy Cooke to a newly-created post of Director of Football.

Cooke will link up with his old boss, Jimmy Mullen whose appointment as manager at Market Drayton was confirmed last week following a short spell as caretaker.

Mullen, who gave Cooke his big break from the non-League game 16 years ago, hopes to see the 37-year old playing for his new club in the not too distant future.

Former Blues’ defender Matt Johnson is expected to line up in the Drayton squad against his former teammates.

Meanwhile, Leek make a first ever trip to Coalville on Saturday having beaten the Leicestershire outfit in their first meeting at Harrison Park back in September.

Coalville currently sit mid-table in the league just two places and one point behind Leek who have three games in hand.

Lincoln re-arranged
Evo-Stik League officials have announced the new date for Blues’ home fixture against Lincoln United. The Whites will now visit Harrison Park on Tuesday 6th December with a 7.45pm kick-off.

Two fixtures remain outstanding - the home match against Brigg Town and the trip to play Belper Town.

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