CHESTER CITY'S top scorer Mark Beesley is doubtful for this afternoon's Nationwide Conference relegation crunch against Dover Athletic at the Deva Stadium.
The in-form striker, who has notched 16 goals this season, sustained a hairline fracture to his arm during last weekend's win at Forest Green Rovers and the decision whether to play or not has been left entirely up to the player.
Beesley has been offered a protective rubber guard by the club should he decide to play.
City boss Mark Wright is obviously keen that the ex-Preston North End hot-shot will give the club a boost and decide to play: "I know he is in pain, but his arm is not badly broken and I have known players to play with broken noses and bones in the past."
Should Beesley decide against turning out, David Brown, Stuart Whittaker or Richard Peacock are likely to partner veteran Dean Spink up front.
Defeat for Dover this afternoon would all but condemn them to relegation, but since Clive Walker took over the managerial reins from ex-Everton shot-stopper Neville Southall nine games ago, the club's fortunes have turned around.
They travel to the Deva Stadium boasting an impressive unbeaten five-match run, although their cause isn't helped today by the suspension of inspirational midfielder Jamie Day.
A doubt also surrounds their leading scorer Keith Scott.
This afternoon's game is the first of three home matches in seven days for City and the club have come up with a novel way of increasing attendances at the Deva Stadium.
Vouchers will be issued at today's game and also on Tuesday evening, when Farnborough Town are the visitors. Holders of vouchers-from both matches will be admitted free to next Saturday's home clash against Stevenage Borough.
CHESTER CITY (from): W Brown, Woodyatt, Williams, Bolland, Brabin, Lancaster, M Rose, McGorry, Carden, McElhatton, Carey, Beesley, D Brown, Spink, Peacock, Blackburn, Haarhoff, M O'Brien.
*NEIL TURNER'S guests on Channel One TV's 'Sportstalk' tomorrow are Liverpool Football Club legend, Ronnie Moran, and former BBC Brain of Sport, Dave Ball. The show is transmitted at 11.15am, 3.15pm and 6.15pm.
