Gary Anslow, the Market Drayton Town team captain who left the club twice last season, is set to return again for tomorrow’s attractive home local derby friendly with AFC Telford.
The full back, who quit for spells at Hednesford and Chasetown, has been training with Town for two weeks.
Manager Simon Line, who was a party to Anslow’s first move when he signed him for Hednesford during his three months as their manager, confirmed that he expected the defender to “figure” in his squad for the 3pm kick-off. But whether that means Anslow, who was in at the very start of Town’s great Greenfields rollercoaster some eight years ago, will be returning permanently remains to be seen.
Line said: “Gary’s been training with us and has indicated he will be available for the game against Telford . . . clearly, if that is the case, he is too good a player to be left on the sidelines. Nothing is settled in terms of him signing up for the season. It rarely is for any player at this stage of the season for clubs like ours at this level of football.
“Players like to keep their options open, see who is about at the club, how things are going in training and how the pre-season matches pan out.”
Line had hoped he might be able to tempt central defender Grant Goodhead and key striker Tom Ward back too – but both are keeping their options open and have not joined in Town’s training sessions.
The boss remains happy, however, with the way his squad is shaping up. “Training has gone really well,” he said. “We had 22 players, including the bulk of last season’s squad, at Tuesday night’s session and they’re picking up the pace nicely.”
AFC Telford are not, perhaps, the team Town would have chosen for the first of their eight pre-season friendlies.
“In an ideal world, we would have wanted a couple of games under our belt before taking them on,” admitted Line. “They’re probably the most challenging side we face, especially as they’re under new management. However, while it’s certainly a tough one for us to start with, it’s great for the supporters.
“Over the years we’ve had some cracking games against Telford and I’m sure Saturday’s will be no exception. We’ll certainly be giving it our all.”
Town’s second pre-season match is at Ludlow Town a week tomorrow and the following Tuesday they travel to meet Ellesmere Rangers.
By Terry Morris
