Striking Out

Regular front man, Jay Simpson, was unexpectedly absent from the team line-up on Saturday. It transpired that he had a tight hamstring and Warnock didn't want to risk him, particularly as we have so many games coming fast and furious.

'If it was the last game of the season, he could have played on Saturday, but there's no need to risk players,' Warnock explained.

'He's got a tight hamstring. It was 50/50, so why risk it,'he continued.

But the good news is that Warnock is confident that Simpson will be fit to rejoin the squad for tomorrow night's home fixture against Derby County: 'He'll be alright for Derby, but there was no point in risking it and him being out for three or four weeks.'

In the meantime, Antonio German was particularly delighted at coming off the bench and scoring our equaliser against Sousa's Swansea City on Saturday.

'I was in the right place at the right time and thankfully I managed to poke it home. A goal's a goal - it wasn't the prettiest effort, but it doesn't matter how they go in, as long as they go in!'he purred.

German was thrilled to have earned us a point, which he felt was well-deserved. But equally, he was not getting carried away, realistically observing:

'I'm willing to bide my time.I can understand why the Manager is opting for experience, because that's what needed at the moment.

'However, I'm working hard in training and as you could see on Saturday, he threw me on and I got the goal he asked for.'

German has nothing but praise for the new manager and his team:

'He's a great Manager - he's a fantastic leader and motivator,'

He also confirmed that, under the new management team, the team are 'really starting to gel.'

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