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Dec
Harrogate Town winger Stephen Duke-McKenna set for lengthy absence with injury
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Harrogate Town winger Stephen Duke-McKenna faces a lengthy absence after breaking a bone in his foot against Accrington Stanley on Tuesday (December 9).
The tricky forward had to be substituted seven minutes after coming on at halftime.
In an interview with the club today (December 11), manager Simon Weaver revealed the Guyanese international will be sidelined for around 12 weeks.
He said:
It’s not good news. Our thoughts go out to Dukey – he’s made a big impression on the team this year, scored some important goals, and he’ll be missed.
Duke-McKenna, the joint top goalscorer with five goals, has been one of Harrogate’s best players this season.
It is not just his goals that will be missed – the Everton academy graduate has completed the fourth-most successful dribbles in League Two so far.
Midfielder Bryn Morris is also out for a few weeks with a thigh strain, after pulling up in training last Thursday (December 4).
These blows leave Simon Weaver’s squad down to its bare bones again, with nine first-team players currently out of action.
It was only a month ago that the Sulphurites had to line up with only three players on the bench against Notts County. The situation eased but now Weaver’s side are back in at the deep end.
Last season the club endured a similar injury crisis, with seven first team players out at one time in February.
The Stray Ferret questioned the seeming fragility of Harrogate's squad after Weaver said he would not be making any more signings in August. You can read it here.
When we interviewed Weaver after Harrogate’s pre-season loss to Rotherham United, we asked him why he thought the club has been plagued by so many injuries over the last twelve months. He said:
It’s difficult. We’re trying to probe and it’s not that we don’t ask the right questions, there’s always an inquest going off. There’s been a mixture of injuries so it’s hard to find a recurring theme. Obviously, we’re trying to improve training facilities all the time.
Harrogate’s next match is away at Cheltenham on Saturday (December 13) in what looks like a six-pointer for Simon Weaver’s side. Kick off is at 3pm.
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