Player crisis deepens

Last updated : 07 January 2003 By Tony Scholes

Ian Cox - out with a one match suspension
That is just about where the good news comes to an end and as Little comes in two others go out to make the number of players available to Stan even less.

Gareth Taylor is once again out, he was given a three match suspension following his sending off at Gillingham, he misses the Ipswich game on Saturday and the Grimsby replay.

Dean West will be back for the replay but he is out for the Ipswich game serving his one match suspension for his sending off at Gillingham. He was out on Saturday at Grimsby for having picked up five yellow cards and so any successful appeal against his sending off would have made no difference for the cup tie.

But it is worse with Ian Cox and Paul Weller also out now. Weller will be out for at least a couple of weeks with a calf injury and it could not have come at a worse time for the latest Burnley captain who has been in top form in recent weeks.

Ian Cox won’t be taking over the captaincy either as he sits out the Ipswich game with a one match ban having picked up five yellow cards. It will be interesting to see who plays alongside Arthur at the back with the favourite Mark McGregor surely needed to fill in at right back in the absence of Fred West.

Paul Cook and Graham Branch did thankfully come through without injury on their recalls to the side at Grimsby and both should be OK to continue. There seems little hope of Lee Briscoe being available whilst there is no chance of Steve Davis being involved.

Stan is reluctant to blood any youngsters and says he is hoping to strengthen the squad with loan signings. Given the current situation then now must surely be the right time to do that.