United strike-force is hit by injury setbacks (From Hereford Times)

United strike-force is hit by injury setbacks

1:40pm Friday 27th August 2010 in

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Hereford United could be facing a striker shortage with three of their forwards on the injured list.

Mathieu Manset (hamstring), Sam Malsom (medial knee ligament) and Aidan Thomas (ankle) have all sustained knocks which threaten to sideline them.

“Manset did not train on Tuesday and we’re not yet sure of the extent of the damage,” said Bulls chief Simon Davey yesterday (Wednesday).

“Sam Malsom is probably looking at two to four weeks out and Aidan Thomas had to come off in yesterday’s reserve-team match with an ankle injury.”

With the transfer window set to close on August 31, Davey may be forced to look outside his squad for replacements.

“We still have Stuart Fleetwood and Sean Canham but whether we have to bring someone in from outside will depend on the extent of the injury to Manset.”

United did, however, receive some good news last week about last season’s leading scorer.

A Football League tribunal has ruled that Bournemouth must pay an initial fee of £60,000 to the Bulls for the transfer of midfielder Marc Pugh.

The South Coast club will also have to pay further installments of £10,000 each when Pugh reaches 15, 30, 45 and 60 matches for them.

And Hereford will also hold a 10% sell-on clause in the event of Pugh making a further move.

Pugh was on target again for Bournemouth on Saturday and has scored in two of his first three League 1 games for the Cherries.

Saturday’s visit of Rotherham is United’s third consecutive Saturday challenge against a League 2 promotion prospect.

The goalless home draw against Gillingham two weeks ago was followed by last Saturday’s 4-0 reverse at Chesterfield and Davey would, no doubt, be delighted with a repeat of last season’s 3-0 success to boost confidence.

Rotherham beat Cheltenham 6-4 last Saturday and Davey said: “They are obviously an attack-minded team but there are going to be frailties at the back.

“We have to make sure that we take the game to them in our own stadium.”