JOINT-BOSS Wayne Oliver is hoping Droitwich Spa don’t suffer Bank Holiday blues as the Saltmen are once again hit with a string of absentees.
Nine members of the squad were missing through unavailability and injury for their 1-1 draw at Coton Green and a similar amount could be missing for Saturday’s home game against Northfield Town and Monday’s away trip to local rivals Fairfield Villa.
The situation was so bad on Saturday that Oliver was forced for the first time to name only one player on the substitutes bench.
Adam Goodby gave Coton the lead before Macauley Finch levelled before half-time.
With Nick Seabourne and Jack Allerton both sidelined with long-term ankle injuries, Daniel Cottrill, from the under-18s, is expected to be called up to stake a claim for himself.
Defender Mark Burrows and midfielder Graham Pardoe could also make the squad for the Bank Holiday fixtures.
“To have got a draw at Coton with nine players missing was a brilliant result for us,” said Oliver.
“I have never had to name just one player on the bench until last Saturday so it showed the strength in depth we have in the squad.
“We have made tentative enquiries for some potential new faces with Nick and Jack on the sideline.
“However, we are playing the waiting game and not jumping straight into something.
“With the fact some players might be coming back it could just be a case of a patching up job.”
Having drawn their opening two league games, the Saltmen will be hoping to secure their first wins of the season this weekend but Oliver stressed both Northfield and Fairfield will provide a tough test.
“Two games in the space of three days is going to be hard,” he said.
“We know a lot about Northfield and expect them to be a strong outfit and Fairfield, like always, will be a challenge for us.
“Hopefully we won’t be in for a repeat of last season against Fairfield where we had to come from 2-0 down to win 3-2 in the last minute.
“If we come out of August unbeaten I will be happy.
“We knew it was going to be a tougher year because teams were going to change how they play against us.
“All we can do is take it one game at a time and push on from there.”
