SAMMY McIlroy and Mark Lillis have telephones fixed to their ears at the moment as they search for a goalkeeper in time for Saturday's Conference clash with York City.

The Morecambe caretaker manager and assistant have been rocked by the ankle injury suffered by keeper Ryan Robinson towards the end of Tuesday's heartbreaking LDV Vans Trophy defeat to Bradford City.

Robinson collapsed in a heap after a collision while clearing a Darran Kempson back pass and was taken to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.

"The X-rays showed no break," Lillis tells the Citizen. "But early indications suggest Ryan could be out for about a month.

"It is a massive blow for us and for the kid but now we need to look around for a replacement in time for Saturday.

"We only have Scott Davies and we need cover and we could do with someone with experience.

"We are on the phone to Premiership clubs and other places where we have good contacts to see if we can get someone in."

The deadline for loan signings is at 5pm on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Lillis has praised the players despite seeing them bow out of the competition thanks to a Bradford goal deep in stoppage time.

"We were gutted but at the same time we could take so much from the game and we told the players as much.

"And to be fair, any casual observers couldn't have picked the League One side out from the Conference one."