Paul Linwood is prepared to keep playing through the pain barrier as the Blues battle with a mounting casualty list.

Injuries have left manager Steve Burr without a recognised fit centre back with George Horan, Ross Killock and Matty Brown all ruled out.

Linwood has been nursing a shin knock and limped off after 22 minutes in the midweek draw with Southport.

But the 30-year-old is willing to have a pain-killing injection to ensure he can face champions-elect Luton Town on Saturday (3pm).

Linwood compared the ending of the Southport game to a Hollywood war movie with the wounded Blues holding on for a point against the odds.

He said: “There was a stage for 10 minutes when it was like the end of Saving Private Ryan.

“There are lads soldiering on and there are lads who have been carrying knocks for weeks.

“It means a lot to the lads to stay up and lads are playing through pain and a lot of things and we've all got the same goal: this club needs to stay up.”

Linwood has made more than 190 senior appearances in two spells with the Blues.

He has been in and out of the team this season but has started the last six games.

Linwood has been struggling with a knock picked up in training and came through the loss to Alfreton Town on Saturday but was forced off on Tuesday after aggravating the injury.

He said: “I shouldn’t have really played on Saturday but managed to get through it. After Ross went off there was no chance I was coming off.

“I got a bang on it within 10 minutes against Southport but fingers crossed it settles down for Saturday.

“If not it might need maybe a little jab or something in there but I should be okay.”

Chester have now gone three games without a win and sit one place outside the relegation zone.

Linwood said: “Even when we had our five game run we didn't manage to quite pull away because everyone was snapping at our heels but we're out of the bottom four which is the main thing at the minute.

“It's in our hands and it's only us that can lose it.”

Alongside club captain Horan and Gareth Seddon, Linwood is one of the dressing room leaders and praised the character in the squad.

He feels it is vital the senior players continue to lead from the front for the rest of the season.

“That's what we've been brought in to do,” he said.

“People like us and Jason Jarrett – who was excellent on Tuesday – drive the young lads through when it gets a bit hard and they aren't used to these big occasions.

“It's our job to do that.”