Injuries affect both sides as Devonshire Cougars take on Dandy Town
Title-chasing Devonshire Cougars will again be without the services of key player Lejuan Simmons for their Premier Division clash with Dandy Town at Devonshire Recreation Club on Friday night (9pm).
The experienced forward has been in a fitness battle since pulling his hamstring during the FA Cup first round tie at home to Somerset Trojans on January 22, which ruled him out of the league encounter between the same two sides five days later.
Simmons has made significant inroads on the road to recovery but will miss the derby with their cross-town rivals.
“I am not available and in a race to try to get back for St George’s,” Simmons said.
“I pulled up against Somerset in the FA Cup in the 75th minute. That’s why I missed the last Somerset game and the physiotherapist told me it is looking like two or three weeks.
“It has been pretty good; I haven’t really had no problems and right now it is what it is. I just have to take care of my body until I get back.”
Cougars are fresh off 4-1 and 5-3 victories over Trojans in the FA Cup and league and will look to continue that good run, with Simmons sure his team will continue to play well in his absence.
“I have enough confidence in my team to get the job done,” he said.
“It’s a big game and they have had our number more than we have had theirs this season, but I think form-wise as far as in terms of confidence, it’s going well inside our camp.
”All we have to do is stick to the brand of football we have been coached to do all season.“
The 29-year-old national team player has taken his ordeal all in stride.
“Missing a week or two, that’s football,” he said. “Anybody is going to miss not playing every game but it just comes with the sport and the hand we are dealt sometimes.”
Town beat bottom side Robin Hood 2-0 in their previous league outing will also be without captain Angelo Simmons who is still recovering from a slight tear in his calf muscle.
“I am not back, one more week,” he said. “I will be back next week for the North Village game. I am not pushing it for this week.
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