A SHOCK new signing has stepped into the breach to bolster the injury-plagued Cheshire Jets.
After it was confirmed Colin O’Reilly has torn his quadriceps thigh muscle, John Lavery was faced with a difficult BBL Championship weekend with Adam Brown sidelined and Matt Schneck still struggling through his ankle injury.
But salvation came thanks to MK Lions, who this week re-signed BBL Championship veteran Robert Youngblood.
The move directly led to them releasing 6ft7ins first-year rookie Nathan Shall.
And the former Manchester Magic teammate of Keith Page decided that the Northgate Arena was the place to come and prove his worth.
“I had trained with the Jets in the off-season and I liked coach Lavery’s approach,” he said.
“When I was released I looked at the situation here with the short line and realised there was an opportunity for me to come and prove myself.”
Capable of playing a number of roles for the Jets, his arrival is a major boost for Lavery.
This weekend the Jets head to Worcester Wolves on Saturday (7pm) and Plymouth Raiders on Sunday (4pm), two tough trips that will push them to their limits.
The Wolves are level on points at the top of the BBL Championship with Newcastle Eagles and as they have not played the Jets yet this season, coach Paul James is wary.
“I have only seen the Jets once this season and that was early October when the played the Guildford Heat,” he said.
“They are a team in transition with a new coach and new players who are all getting used to each other. Having said that Bill Cole and Adam Brown have been good new additions to the BBL, while Matt Schneck and Colin O'Reilly bring a little bit of stability.”
The Raiders come into this weekend on the back of losing the BBL Cup final to the Eagles and captain Anthony Rowe isn’t taking the Jets lightly: “They’re a tricky team, and they’ve had some unpredictable results.
“It’s been a long time since we played them in a friendly at the start of the season and we’re looking to get back on track after the final.”
