Defender Michael Briscoe set to be ruled out for AFC Telford finale
INJURED AFC Telford defender Michael Briscoe is likely to be ruled out for the rest of the season, boss Mark Cooper admitted today.
But midfielder Richard Davies could be sent out on loan in a bid to regain match sharpness and fitness.
Briscoe and Davies are the club's only injury casualties at the moment, having been hampered by a back injury and a chipped foot bone respectively.
Cooper has been monitoring the progress of both as they have undergone rehabilitation work to bring them closer to a first-team return.
Briscoe has not played since limping out of the Bucks' 1-1 draw at home to Lincoln City in early September and he had to undergo back surgery late last year.
It had been hoped the player might be able to return some time next month but Cooper, who has spoken regularly with the club's physios, said he feels it is unlikely the player will be involved in the end of season run-in.
Asked if he thought Briscoe will play a part in any of the Bucks' remaining games, he said: "I wouldn't have thought so.
"He has been out for the whole season. He is going to need a run of games (to get him ready for first team football) as well so it is going to be difficult for him."
Davies's prospects remain much greater, though, as the player, who was sidelined in late December, has now returned to training.
He took part in a light training session on Thursday but Cooper said he will also need games to bring him back up to speed.
The new Bucks chief, who replaced Andy Sinton at the helm two weeks ago, said he could be sent out on a month's loan but the preferred option would be to arrange a couple of friendly games to give him pitch time instead.
"The problem with him going out on loan is that we lose him for the whole month. When he is fit we will see," he said.
Meanwhile, Cooper said fellow midfielder Jay Smith's experience could give the team a boost in the end-of-season run-in.
Smith has missed most of the season because of an aductor muscle injury but made his return to first-team action as a substitute against Grimsby last weekend.
He then followed that with a solid 62-minute display against Hyde on Tuesday and Cooper said: "He knows the game.
"He is an experienced player and in that area of the pitch we need a bit more experience if we are going to have any chance of staying up."
