Nat Sylvester's City Slicker column

IT'S a New Year but the same old story at St George's Lane with an injury list longer than a Saturday night in casualty at Ronkswood.

The fine win at Weymouth was achieved despite the first half withdrawals of Allan Davies and Mark Shepherd with hamstring problems. Davies had only just recovered from the same problem so is unlikely to be rushed back into the line up.

For Shepherd it is more bad luck on the injury as he seeks to build on his goal spree which brought him a Welling hat-trick as well as a goal against Newport Isle of Wight.

Perhaps it is strikers' luck because no sooner had Phil Stant overcome one Achilles problem then his other has given him problems - "it's old age" said Stant but I think it's testament to the enthusiasm and tenacity with which he gives his all every time he's in a City shirt.

However with Stewart Hadley and Adam Webster both fit it gives the veteran stalwart chance to fully recuperate.

Andy Ellis was suffering some reaction to his ankle ligament injury over the New Year period while January could see the return of Chris Greenman.

Physio Archie Richards reports that the defender's shoulder was being tested to spotlight any weaknesses but was confident he would be fit by the end of the month.

Leon Jackson was running at Weymouth as he sought to shake off the effects of his medial ligament injury but the enforced weather break could work in his favour and give him time to fully recover.

Mark Owen is now resigned to a summer comeback rather than the March/April target he had in mind. Fresh x-rays revealed a further crack in his bone but the forward was not unduly worried and said it was knitting together well.

Neither keeper has been spared injury or illness either with Danny McDonnell succumbing to the flu and Paul Wyatt sporting a black eye (don't ask).

Finally Darren Middleton is hoping to be doing some sort of running at the end of the week, 10 days after keyhole surgery to clean out his knee and repair a slight tear to his cartilage.

Middleton is desperate to get back into action and hopes to be available for selection at the end of January. "It's looking really exciting for the club at the moment and I think we can finish the season really well," he said.

With this little roll call of injured players back to help the cause then Middleton's hopes of a good end to the season might not be too wide of the mark.