Football - Osman blow ahead of top clash (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Football - Osman blow ahead of top clash

9:00am Friday 27th March 2009 in Sport By Arran Jolly

SHOULD Kendal make it to the play-off finals this season they will be without influential midfielder Carl Osman who has been sidelined for the rest of the season, writes Arran Jolly.

The news comes ahead of a huge game this weekend for Town. Kendal have been in fine form of late, winning six out of their last seven games, and have fought there way back into the play-off positions.

Tomorrow (Saturday) Kendal will travel to take on Unibond League leaders Eastwood Town in a top of the table showdown.

Speaking to the Gazette following Kendal’s 1-0 win over Prescot Cables on Tuesday evening, Town manager Lee Ashcroft confirmed that while Osman had been expected to start in tomorrow’s game, the popular winger, who has scored 17 times for Town this season, has suffered a reccurrence of the ham-string injury that has blighted the No. 7 in recent weeks.

Ashcroft said: “Carl came on for the last 20 minutes on Tuesday night and unfortunately he’s suffered the same injury he’s be carrying for a while and he’ll be out for the rest of the season, which is obviously a huge blow for us.”

Meanwhile, midfielder Warren Beattie is set to return to Fleetwood after a month’s loan.

Kendal moved quickly to sign up some cover and have clinched a deal to bring Hartlepool United Reserves’ player Martin Young to the club.

Young was part of the North East League title winning side last year and is known as a great box-to box player. The arrangement is for him to stay at Parkside until after the play-offs in May.

With Town striker Alex Taylor facing a late fitness test for the Eastwood game, the return of David Foster’s goal-scoring form could not have come at a better time.

The striker has scored four times in two games drawing praise from his manager.

“Fozzie was magnificent on Saturday (against North Ferriby) and took his hat-trick very well,” he said.

“He was not quite as involved on Tuesday night but he took his chance and hopefully he can carry this form through for Saturday.”