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by ROGER HALSTEAD
 
Matty Brooks and Simon Baldwin must both see specialists about knee injuries, it was revealed by Roughyeds today.
 
This is the latest blow in a series of injury setbacks which are hitting the squad as the big kick-off in the Co-operative National League Two draws ever closer.
 
Baldwin damaged his knee in the home win against Salford three games ago and he hasn't played since.
 
Brooks missed the two games against Rochdale with a similar problem, but came off the bench against the British Army last Sunday when the squad was down to the "bare bones" of 17 players who were available for the trip.
 
Whether Brooks will be available for the Northern Rail Cup game at Swinton  on Sunday is not yet known -- it might be a case of 'needs must' -- but Baldwin is definitely out of the running again and probably will be at least until he has seen the specialist.
 
On the brighter side Said Tamghart and Gareth Langley will be available again for Sunday and, hopefully, so will Alex Wilkinson providing his police duties allow it.
 
Coach Steve Deakin, meanwhile, has revealed that only seven players out of his 26 were able to run at training on Monday night and that efforts to bolster his squad had not produced any positive results.
 
He said: "We are trying to get people in, but it is difficult. The league season has not started yet and clubs are keen to keep hold of big squads ahead of the two games at Easter. Ideally, I would like to bring in a couple of new players, though we will have three coming back into the squad this week."
 
Again, on the brighter side, there is a chance that hooker Simeon Hoyle might be back soon after damaging his Achilles tendon in the Law Cup game at Rochdale in January. He has made good progress in recent weeks and there is even a chance he might be given a run-out in the new reserve team's pre-season friendly game at Featherstone tomorrow (Thursday) night.