Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
Carney takes a break to get fit
Wednesday, January 3 2007
Hitchin Town will not see striker Grant Carney in action again this season as the injury stricken player struggles to get fit.
Carney, signed in the close season by manager Darren Salton, has played just 11 minutes for the club, coming on as substitute against Stamford.
But the 30 year-old former Dunstable and Hemel Hempstead forward’s recovery from a summer operation on his knee has been slow. While he has been sidelined, Hitchin’s other summer capture, Chris Dillon has been scoring prolifically and Salton now has further options with the arrival of last season’s leading scorer Josh Sozzo. Carney has decided to concentrate on getting fit.
“As everyone knows, I was after Grant for some time, so it is bitterly disappointing that he has been unable to get fit. He needs time to do that,” said Salton.
Neil Pugh is also out of the reckoning for the time being due to work commitments. Pugh has recently joined the Police Force and is currently undergoing intensive training. He remains part of Salton’s future plans, though.
Goalkeeper Michael Parkin, injured in Hitchin’s heroic FA Cup win at Bognor Regis, has gone out on loan to Diss Town.