BROMSGROVE Sporting are to set to welcome back a number of key players ahead of their home fixture against Cadbury Athletic next week.
On Tuesday (March 8), Sporting welcome Athletic to the Victoria Ground in another crucial Midland League Division One clash and a win is paramount if they have any hopes of maintaining a title charge.
And there’s positive news for the Rouslers going into next week’s fixture as a number of crucial players are set to return to the squad, bolstering Paul Smith’s options.
Jack Wilson, Sam Wills and Brendan Kelly are set to return, Reece Hewitt has no new injury concerns, however Dale Edwards and Luke Dugmore are sidelined.
Cadbury have put in some notable performances against the top sides in recent weeks, having beaten league leaders Coventry United 2-1 before giving title-chasing Nuneaton Griff a scare in a 3-2 defeat.
And Sporting boss Smith expects Athletic to be right up for the clash at the Victoria Ground.
“They are a really hard working side and it will be a tough game,” he added.
“Like every team that comes to our ground, it will be a cup final for them and when teams come here they raise their levels.
“You cannot take anyone in this league lightly but the performance against Lichfield City on Tuesday had me purring so I expect another good performance.”
Sporting go into this game on the back of an important 2-0 victory at Lichfield City, a result which moved them to within two points of the league leaders, but with the Rouslers out of action this Saturday, Coventry United have the chance to move five points clear at the top if they beat Nuneaton Griff.
And with a number of first team players missing for the clash at the McDonald’s Community Stadium, Smith was impressed with the win and Jozsef Jakab.
“It was a big gamble giving Jakab the opportunity to play up front,” he said.
“However, that risk paid off and he was absolutely outstanding for the 60 minutes that he played.
“I have said all along that I have got 20 players that are more than capable of putting on a performance.
“It was massive result, a pivotal win in our title hopes.
“Before the game I really laid it into my players that we needed to win and I thought maybe I had put them under too much pressure.
“But credit to the lads, it was probably the most professional performance of the season.”
