Strain rules midfielder out for a month

Co-manager Paul Phillip’s has confirmed that Ashton United midfielder Matt Chadwick will be out of action for up to four weeks after picking up a hamstring strain in Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Trafford FC at Shawe View, writes James Burch.

The 21-year-old former Radcliffe Borough midfielder, pictured, has been a constant in the Robin’s side this year, playing sixteen games in league and cup and scoring four times in the process.

After bagging a brace during last Saturday’s win at Nantwich Town, it was hoped that Chadwick could go on and reproduce the form that helped him secure a place in last season's 'EVO-STIK NPL Premier Division Team of the Year'. However, after picking up his hamstring injury, Phillip's said on Thursday that he will be out for at least a month.

The fast-footed left winger has credited with being one of the major factors in Ashton United’s impressive run of three straight wins and only one defeat in ten that has lifted them to within six points off the play-off places with two games in hand.

Ahead of hosting Ilkeston FC on Saturday, joint manager Phillip’s said: "He picked up a hamstring strain in the week and he’ll be out for about four weeks. It’s a shame really because he was just starting to show glimpses of last year’s form and if he carried on performing the way he has been recently it wouldn’t have been too long before a higher club would have been in for him."

According to Phillips, there are contingency plans in place to cover for his absence and he added: "We are hoping to bring someone in by Friday. We’ve given their club seven days’ notice and if that fails we have made a loan enquiry for a Conference North player."

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