We need more strength in depth, says Walker

MAIDSTONE UNITED joint-manager Alan Walker says he is looking at strength-in-depth for next season as his side have struggled when injuries have mounted.

Speaking to www.maidstoneunited.co.uk ahead of the big Kent derby against Margate on Saturday at Bourne Park, Walker says he is looking for a deeper squad next season.

“Whilst there’s a chance for us still making the play-offs, then we are still going all out to get into a top 5 position, however we are already having to look to next season to try and build on the squad we have,” said Walker.

“When our first choice eleven is available, we have a very formidable side, but as we have seen, when injuries take hold our performance drops significantly as we saw last weekend at Tooting.

“With 3 key players out and Jay (Saunders) playing whilst suffering with the flu, the results were evident on the pitch. So for next season, we need to look at the depth of the squad to ensure we have the resources to compete even when injuries strike.

“Monday night training was a bit difficult with the younger lads playing for the reserves and some of the senior squad being rested due to injury so tonight we’ll get a better idea of how they will react to Saturday’s defeat, but it’s a case of lifting them and ensuring that memories of Saturday do not affect the way they approach the Margate game.”

The Stones go into the derby game in eleventh place in the Ryman Premier League table, and are 7 points adrift of the play-off zone and ten points clear of relegation, depending on if your glass is half empty or half full.

Margate, meanwhile, buoyed by the Ryman League’s decision to award the club three points following the late abandonment at their recent game at Canvey Island, now have 36 points, just one point adrift of safety.

For Maidstone, it looks like both Meshach Nugent and Alan Walker have recovered from their injuries for inclusion in the squad and Saunders is now fully over his illness. The only doubt will be Ashley Ulph, whose injury looks set to keep him out.

For Margate, skipper Dan Young, who picked up two yellow cards in that abandoned game at Canvey Island, serves the first of his two match ban.

Luke Wheatley should come into contention in the middle of the defence after injury. Kieran Morris could come into contention after injury and striker Nathan Bailey - who scored for the reserves against his former club Dover Athletic in midweek - could come in for Kenny Pratt.

Details courtesy of both www.maidstoneunited.co.uk & www.margate-fc.com

Maidstone United v Margate
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 21^st March 2009
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Bourne Park, Central Park, Eurolink, Church Road, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 3SB