WREXHAM manager Brian Carey, boosted by a problem-free return to reserve team action by club captain Neil Roberts on Wednesday, welcomed midfielder Mark Jones back to full training yesterday.
With central defender Steve Evans also fit again after missing Tuesday’s 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Stockport County and striker Lee McEvilly none the worse after limping off during the game, the Racecourse boss is contemplating the prospect of a near-full strength squad within the fortnight.
But with MK Dons recalling on-loan midfielder Paul Mitchell after this Saturday’s home match with Wycombe, Carey is still keen to bring in new faces when the emergency loan transfer market re-opens on February 7.
“If I think it’s necessary, we’ll be able to bring in some new faces,” he said yesterday. “But with Neil playing 65 minutes last night and Jonah back with us the numbers are moving in the right direction.
“We have a few people waiting in the wings now, as the reasonably strong line-up for the reserve team showed. That’s what we want because a strong reserve team suggests the first team should be even stronger.”
If he was disappointed to lose Mitchell after just four weeks of a scheduled three-month stay, Carey did not let it show.
“Paul has done a really good job for us, but the other side of the coin is that we have players coming back from injury ready to take his place,” he added.
“Paul is a great professional and I know he has enjoyed his time with us and I hope we have not seen the last of him.”
The Dragons’ boss was equally pleased with his two latest loan signings, Robbie Garrett and Cherno Samba, who both made their debuts on Tuesday evening. Garrett played a full 90 minutes with Samba coming off the bench in the second half.
“I thought they both made a significant contribution,” said Carey. “Obviously we saw more of Robbie because he was on from the start. It was a big ask for him to step up from reserve team football but his performance did not surprise me at all and I thought he coped with everything very well.
“Even Stockport manager Jim Gannon was impressed, telling me that Robbie had knocked his side out of their stride, so that was some compliment. Cherno had less of an opportunity to impress, but he showed some nice touches even though it’s difficult at the best of times to come into a game when he did.
“Both lads have some good qualities and it’s up to us to get the most out of them while they are here. It’s a strange environment and was a bit unfamiliar for them earlier in the week, but once they have settled in and been with us longer, I’m expecting some good things.”
