Handyside Blow

By: Stephen Bateman
Date: 29/11/2000

It was confirmed today that defender Peter Handyside will be out of action for at least six weeks after suffering a stress fracture of the shin. The former Scotland Under-21 star sustained the injury against Wolves last week and his absence will create more headaches for Town boss Lennie Lawrence.

With Handyside joining fellow defenders Richard Smith and Paul Raven on the long-term casualty list, the Mariners are fast running out of options at the back. Lawrence's predicament is worsened due to the fact that skipper Paul Groves, who has been deputising as a makeshift centre-back, is due to serve a one match suspension against Crystal Palace on Saturday after being red-carded against Sheffield United. It would now appear that Lawrence must decide on whether or not to hand youngster Matthew Bloomer an extended run in the first team or move on-loan Norwegian Knut Anders Fostervold into the heart of the Mariners defence.

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