Packed schedule puts pressure on Torquay United

The pressure to get as many of their injured players back as soon as possible has increased for Torquay United after the news that they face a draining game-every-three-days schedule in February.

The Gulls’ latest fixture rearrangement will send them to Maidstone United, who have already beaten United in league and cup at Plainmoor this season, on Tuesday, February 6.

It follows the earlier decision to play the twice-postponed match at Taunton Town on Feb 13.

That means seven matches in 22 days.

United’s full February programme now reads: Feb 3 – St Albans City H, Feb 6 – Maidstone United A, Feb 10 – Slough Town H, Feb 13 – Taunton Town A, Feb 17 – Braintree Town A, Feb 20 – Farnborough A, Feb 24 – Aveley H.

Gary Johnson’s side emerged from the 0-1 home defeat by Truro on Boxing Day – that and other results elsewhere dropped them to seventh in the National League South - with eight senior players sidelined.

One of them, loan striker Theo Williams (hamstring), has returned to Fleetwood Town, who recently sacked Johnson’s son Lee as manager.

United, who also sold Shaun Donnellan to Scottish Premier club Livingston for an undisclosed fee recently, have not made any new signings in the last ten days.

And Johnson indicated at Thursday’s weekly press conference that he might not have added any new faces in time for this Saturday’s home game against Eastbourne Borough.

“We are in a lot of conversations, for sure,” he said.

“The odds are a lot less for this weekend – people will keep their options open for a week or two (through the January transfer window).”

There is some brighter news on the injury front, although Johnson stressed: “We are beholden to specialists and the people who do the operations.”

Midfielders Tom Lapslie and Asa Hall and defender Finley Craske are hoping to be back either for the FA Trophy Fourth Round tie at Hereford on January 13 or the home league game against Dover Athletic seven days later.

Centre-forward Aaron Jarvis and midfielder Kevin Dawson are both hoping to start light running in the next few days

And, although winger Jack Stobbs (hamstring) is still 3-4 weeks away, leading scorer Brad Ash is making a faster than expected recovery from his ankle injury and should be back for that packed February schedule.