Harrogate Town AFC

Watch the Gaffer's pre Carlisle United interview here…
 

 
The Gaffer on a disrupted couple of weeks…

It's been heavy, really, because we want to be out on the field and playing games but in this time of Covid, it really tests you. We've had a few positive test results back at the end of the last week and it denied us another game on Saturday.

We've had quite an absence now and we just can't wait to get back playing but it's just the way of the world at the moment. It's a horrible virus that keeps spreading, keeps changing and keeps spreading again. There's been a lot of players in football that have suffered like everybody else.

On injury and squad updates…

We've got Will (Smith) back in the squad and Rory (McArdle) back in the squad too. How much we push them straight away, it remains to be seen, but we'll have to keep talking to those players and get through another training session today, which should help them for tomorrow.

It lifts us all but it's a must. We're not a big squad anyway, but it's that balance. Danilo Orsi has gone out on loan and been dying to get some games and I think it's better for him as a player to do so. His path has been a bit blocked up here because of the form of others and that's why to balance out the squad, we've recalled Becky (Mark Beck). It's good to see him back with us today.

On Carlisle…

We went to watch their game the other day at Scunthorpe and Carlisle have had back to back wins now so we're probably meeting a more confident line up. It was a handful (for us) away at Carlisle and a difficult game for us. We got through it in the end but it could have gone either way so we respect what they're about.

On the excitement of a return to action…

We're really excited about playing again tomorrow and we'll have a lot of energy about us. The lads have been putting in some hard work despite not playing and I think everybody is just ready to get outdoors and watch a game of football. Even myself at Scunthorpe, I was excited about getting on the road and watching a live game of football.

The reality is it's a big competition for us tomorrow and we're fresh, ready for a really important game for the club.

#ProudToBeTown