Town striker Richard Naylor has discovered that he will need operations on both his knees to rid himself of his tendinitis problems. The injury has affected him long term but seems to have got worse latterly. Earlier in the season Town Physio David Wiliams told TWTD "It's uncomfortable for him, particularly after a game. Not so much after he's trained, but on a Sunday or after a midweek game he's in considerable discomfort for a day. The problem is just below his kneecap just as the tendon joins his kneecap to the shinbone. Again, to a certain extent that's due to his mechanics and the way he's made." (full interview now available on the TWTD website)
The striker said today "Both knees are said to be the wrong shape. Bone has to be taken away and tendons have to be cut."
He hopes to be able to struggle on in the meantime with his priority on a return to the first eleven. Tomorrow sees him back in the Town squad for the game at Crystal Palace where he is likely ot be on the bench. Full squad that travelled: R Wright, Salmon, Wilnis, Clapham, Croft, Stockwell, Mowbray, McGreal, Brown, Venus, Holland, Magilton, J Wright, Scowcroft, Johnson, Axeldal, Midgley, Thetis and Friars.
'Hands off our man!' is the message Town and others are getting from Colchester United regarding Lomano Lua Lua. Town are reported to have put in an offer for the eighteen year old and chairman David Sheepshanks is said to have been in talks with his Layer Road counterpart Peter Heard.
Tottenham and Newcastle are reported to have put in £250,000 bids for the man from Zaire, but Colchester are determined to keep their star asset. It is unlikely, however, that they will be able to hold on to him for too long and a big bid may tempt them to let him go.