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Search forKeiran Murtagh's new Yeovil chance
Thursday, November 20, 2008, 22:48
The former Charlton youngster is set to keep his midfield place when Tranmere Rovers visit Huish Park tomorrow.
Way missed Tuesday's 5-0 FA Cup defeat to Stockport through illness but recovered well enough to train yesterday.
However, he pulled a groin muscle taking a shot and could be out for four weeks.
"It is devastating news," said Slade. "We thought we were having his fresh legs back and that is taken away from us."
Murtagh has been keen to feature more of late and there is no room in the Glovers' budget to bring in a midfielder on loan, even though Lee Peltier is also suspended tomorrow.
"He (Murtagh) is going to be thrown in again," said Slade. "It is up to him to impress.
"He has got real ability. We saw it at Charlton (in the Carling Cup) when he was magnificent. That is the sort of performance we will be wanting to get from him."
Gary Roberts, who has been struggling with a bruised foot, should be ready to play in a reshaped midfield.
"I am pleased I took him off the other night to save his legs," said Slade. "I thought that was a sensible thing to do. If we can bring (left-back) Nathan Smith in that will give us fresh legs too.
"We have a hectic schedule and it doesn't finish until after Tuesday night at Colchester."
Slade is hoping to finally sign Port Vale striker Luke Rodgers on loan today after what he called "the longest deal in the world".
"He is in bed with the flu," revealed Slade. "We are likely to finalise the signature on Friday. We would have done it on Thursday. We are hoping he is fit enough to train on Friday but we will have to wait and see."
The Yeovil board is mulling over whether to approve the offer of a permanent contract to defender Gareth Owen, who has spent the last month on loan from Stockport.
Slade has decided not to appeal against the red card shown to Aaron Brown for a professional foul at Edgeley Park. And he has forbidden his squad from discussing the game any further.
"There is no talk of it at this football club now," he said. "It has been banned from the changing room. We have got 30 games to go and that is our focus now."
Tranmere have three midfielders suspended, so they have swooped for Doncaster's ex-Manchester United man Mark Wilson on loan.
"He is a very useful signing," said Slade.
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