Stephen Baxter optimistic of returns for several injured men for Carrick Rangers' trip to Ballymena United
Carrick Rangers chief Stephen Baxter is hopeful of having one or two bodies back at his disposal ahead of Tuesday night’s clash with Ballymena United at The Showgrounds.
The Amber Army were without several of their big-hitters last weekend as they went down 3-1 to Cliftonville on home soil.
Baxter will definitely not have the services of Paul Heatley and Jimmy Callacher through suspension for the contest against the Braidmen – but he will hoping either Matthew Snoddy, BJ Burns, Luke McCullough or Seanan Clucas make it after missing the visit of the Reds due to injury.
“There's probably a chance for one or two of them maybe for Tuesday night,” he explained.
"The physio and doctor are here working hard on different ones. You lose your entire back three, we played a back three at Bangor and Linfield of Billy Joe Burns, Luke McCullough and Jimmy Callacher.
"All three have been playing so well since the start of the season, so to pull all three out against Cliftonville was a bit of a body blow.
“You’re then pulling Joe Crowe from the centre of your midfield into your back four in an emergency, but again, outstanding from him.
"So those are little things you have to just deal with and work with, and we'll see where the injuries are.
"You can't rush injuries. Injuries are injuries. You just have to see where they are on Monday night and work it out.”
It marks a busy week of action for Carrick as they also face champions Larne on Saturday.
So, how hard is preparation for a three-game week?
Baxter replied: “It changes so much that you have to monitor the players that are injured...who might make it, who might not make it.
"You have to obviously set your game plan up and do all the bits and pieces that are regular for football managers to work out.
"We need to probably make decisions early on Monday night to see who's fit as soon as we have a bit of a game plan.
“Ballymena are a very good side who have made excellent signings all through the summer and Oran Kearney is a master technician and manager.
"All these places are tough to go to, it’s a tough league and it’s a great league with good teams everywhere you look.”