Gary Johnson 'delighted' with loan striker despite early exit

Manager Gary Johnson insists that he's 'delighted' with the contribution that loan striker Tope Fadahunsi is making to his Torquay United team, even though he took him off early for the second time in Tuesday's 3-2 defeat at relegation rivals Dorking Wanderers.

Fadahunsi, who's scored twice on loan from Sutton United, was 'sacrificed' in the wake of Kieron Evans' red card early in the second half.

Johnson, who also withdrew Fadahunsi after 36 minutes of his home debut against Notts County recently, sent on midfielder Ben Wyatt in the 51st minute at Dorking and went to a 4-4-1 formation with leading scorer Aaron Jarvis on his own up front.

"That's always a horrible thing to happen - it's happened to him twice," said Johnson.

"I spoke to Tope as he came off and, although he may have waved his arms around a bit, within five seconds of coming off, he understood.

"He's scored a couple of goals, he's helped to set up two or three more and he's doing well for us.

"We're very pleased with him, and Sutton know that we're delighted to have him with us."

Johnson reported that Newport County loanee Lewis Collins, who can also play as a striker or winger, could return to the squad at home to Southend United on Saturday - he's been out for the last two games under a concussion 'protocol'.

The Southend game, and another home match against Bromley next Tuesday, take on even greater importance after a midweek defeat which left the Gulls four points from safety.  There are 15 games to go.

Johnson dispensed with normal Thursday training and called all his players in to Plainmoor for a detailed review of the Dorking loss.

Evans' dismissal just after United had taken a 2-1 lead may have been a turning-point, but Johnson acknowledged that, over the 90 minutes, too few players, with the notable exceptions of goalscorers Jarvis and Tom Lapslie, played to their top form in such a key fixture.