O'Neill facing striker injury crisis
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Shamrock Rovers boss Michael O'Neill is facing his first real test of the 2010 campaign after Dessie Baker followed Gary Twigg on the injury list after just one game played.
Baker was brought to hospital on Saturday evening after only spending nine minutes on the pitch in the 1-1 draw with Sligo Rovers. This only adds to O'Neill's injury woes as Twigg didn't feature in the game due to a knock.
Baker, who came off as a substitute, picked up his injury when he was tackled by Sligo defender Gavin Peers - who was booked for the challenge by referee Anthony Buttimer.
"He's [been] caught with a challenge, I don't think it was a malicious challenge but it was a reckless challenge," said O'Neill.
"It'll be interesting to see it again, whether it should have been just a yellow card, but I think he's potentially broken his arm, I think, so we'll need to have a look at that."
O'Neill used a different formation at The Showgrounds to compensate for his lack of fit strikers and a change of system is something he may have to stick with until Baker and Twigg return to from injury.
"We have good players in the team, so it's important we utilise them," he said.
"We set out with a 4-3-3 system, we don't have an actual front two at the minute with Gary Twigg obviously missing through injury and Dessie [Baker] missed a bit of pre-season so he's not as fit as we'd like.
"That system allows us to combat that of course we have good options in the wide areas and good options in the middle of the park as well."
Baker was brought to hospital on Saturday evening after only spending nine minutes on the pitch in the 1-1 draw with Sligo Rovers. This only adds to O'Neill's injury woes as Twigg didn't feature in the game due to a knock.
Baker, who came off as a substitute, picked up his injury when he was tackled by Sligo defender Gavin Peers - who was booked for the challenge by referee Anthony Buttimer.
"He's [been] caught with a challenge, I don't think it was a malicious challenge but it was a reckless challenge," said O'Neill.
"It'll be interesting to see it again, whether it should have been just a yellow card, but I think he's potentially broken his arm, I think, so we'll need to have a look at that."
O'Neill used a different formation at The Showgrounds to compensate for his lack of fit strikers and a change of system is something he may have to stick with until Baker and Twigg return to from injury.
"We have good players in the team, so it's important we utilise them," he said.
"We set out with a 4-3-3 system, we don't have an actual front two at the minute with Gary Twigg obviously missing through injury and Dessie [Baker] missed a bit of pre-season so he's not as fit as we'd like.
"That system allows us to combat that of course we have good options in the wide areas and good options in the middle of the park as well."
About Christopher Davey
is a full time Physics student in Trinity College Dublin, but his deep love of all things football is one that simply has to show somewhere. You can contact Christopher on Twitter @ChristopherDavy View Full Profile