Church Boost For Worried Boss Stringer

But the Chelmsford City manager today revealed the player could return to training after knee ligament damage in a months’ time.

The Clarets boss feared the worst when Church was carried from the field on a stretcher against Bath City in last Monday’s FA Cup replay.

But the great news for club and player is that he could be back in action at the end of November.

That gives the Essex club’s Vanarama National League South promotion hopes a huge boost, says the manager.

Stringer told us this afternoon: “It’s not the news I was expecting. I thought he was done for the season, I can’t say any different to that really.

“Players like Churchy just don’t come off, so when they do you know the problem is a very big one.

“I wasn’t expecting to see him again this season but this is the best possible news for the club. It’s a huge and unexpected boost and we’re very happy.”

Stringer’s side are joint top of the table and this weekend they travel to Chippenham Town.

“It’s into the unknown a bit for us,” said the manager, who didn’t want his players to focus on their FA Cup game at Gateshead before the first round comes along.

“We know they have good forward players. David Pratt up front has a lot of energy and we will have to watch him but we go there confident after some good results.

“Being where we are in the league brings pressure there is no doubt about that. But we need to cope with that and if we do we give ourselves a good chance.”