Finley's fitness fight for Fylde

Sam Finley is a doubtful starter for AFC Fylde as they bid to maintain their strong grip on the leadership of Vanarama National League North with a trip to Worcester City tomorrow.
Sam FinleySam Finley
Sam Finley

e has been suffering from the condition of ulcerative colitis and Coasters’ manager Dave Challinor says the club needs to check his condition before deciding whether he will figure.

Challinor said: “It is something that has been a problem for him and it has flared up again, so we will have to see how he is.”

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Macauley Wilson, on loan from Blackpool, returns to the squad after missing the 3-2 FA Trophy win at Gloucester City last Saturday; Wilson was cup-tied for that match.

Wilson’s loan period comes to an end on December 17.

Challinor said: “It has not been an ideal time for him to come in because he has had to miss the Gloucester game because he was cup-tied having played for Bamber Bridge earlier in the competition.

“It was a tough game for him to come in for his debut at Darlington, but he did OK and I thought he was excellent for us against Boston United (9-2 win).”

Speaking of a possible extension of his loan after December 17, Challinor added: “A lot will depend on what Blackpool want to do.

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“They have allowed him to come to us to gain more experience.

“He will see a lot more of the ball with us than he would do at Blackpool, which is something that he is something he will have to get used to,” Challinor added.

Tomorrow’s opponents Worcester are in mid-table and include in their ranks the experienced striker Lee Hughes who, in a much-travelled – and at times controversial – career, had a spell at Blackpool.

Challinor said: “Worcester are not among the top teams, but they have a lot of experienced players, some of whom have played at a higher level.

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“They are more than capable and we will have to make sure that we are at it.”

Challinor added: “There are still areas where we can improve and things can get more physical at this time of the year.

“There is a lot left to work on, but it is about results at this time of the year. By hook or by crook we need to get three points.”

Challinor will have scouts watching Brackley when they play Blackpool at Bloomfield Road tomorrow in the second round of the FA Cup.

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They already know a lot about Brackley having crossed their paths several times in the Vanarama National League North.

AFC Fylde will get the chance to gather more information about them in the Blackpool tie prior to their meeting with Brackley at Mill Farm in the first round proper of the FA Trophy on December 10.