BARNT Green Spartak boss GJ Singh believes having holding midfielder James Karanicolas back in the ranks next month will be the final piece of the jigsaw.
The versatile midfielder, who can play anywhere across the back four as well as in the centre of the park, is currently over in Australia and is expected to return in mid-November.
Karanicolas last featured in the 5-0 win over Tenbury United in the Smedley Crooke Memorial Charity Cup on September 21 and since then, Spartak have won four of their last five games in all competitions without him.
However, Singh believes he will be an important addition to the squad once he returns.
He said: “Things are ticking over nicely at the moment but we certainly miss James and once he returns he will make the squad even stronger.
“He’s one of the first names on the team sheet but not in a specific position because even though he’s a defensive midfielder, he can play at left or right back as well as a central defender.
“He’s a vital player for us and he gives us options and there’s a lot of football left before he returns but I’m wary about bringing in somebody to replace him.
“I don’t want to bring somebody in who upsets the apple cart for just five or six games so I think there’s enough strength in depth in the squad to cover until James comes back.”
After tasting a 4-1 defeat at Coton Green in Midland League Division Two a fortnight ago, Spartak returned to winning ways with a 3-2 victory over West Midlands (Regional) League outfit Wrens Nest in the Birmingham Vase on Saturday.
Marcus Malcolm, Nathaniel Hare and Darren Green fired them into a 3-0 lead after 55 minutes before Nest pulled two goals back in the space of a minute with ten minutes to go.
However, Spartak held on to claim victory and face a quick return to league action on Saturday when they travel to Fairfield Villa who are enjoying a new lease of life under boss Wayne Davis.
Singh is expected to be without striker Jacob Snape (holiday) for the game but is hopeful of a positive result.
“Our away form has not been free flowing and free scoring so we are hoping to kickstart that and I’m sure we will,” he said.
“Hopefully we can put on a good show and a win would be a great result but what’s more important is to at least get points on the board.”
