Nurse a major doubt for Torquay visit

DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE could be without striker Jon Nurse for their first home game of the season this weekend, when they host newly-promoted Torquay United, writes Mike Simmonds. Nurse, who scored a stunning volley in the 2-1 win at Crewe Alexandra on Satu

by MIKE SIMMONDS

DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE could be without striker Jon Nurse for their first home game of the season this weekend, when they host newly-promoted Torquay United, writes Mike Simmonds.

Nurse, who scored a stunning volley in the 2-1 win at Crewe Alexandra on Saturday, limped from the field late in the game, and is now rated as highly doubtful.

"Jon is very sore, as he jarred his knee in a challenge, and we are hoping it's just a jar," said manager John Still.

"If that is the case, you're talking between seven to 10 days, and we hope it's that and not six weeks.

"We'll know more by the end of the week though."

Torquay won promotion back into the Football League last season via the Blue Square Premier play-offs and started their campaign with a 2-0 triumph against Chesterfield on Saturday.

"They will have the newness of a club being promoted, and being a former Football League club, they'll have a good understanding of what is required at this level," added Still.

"It will be another game for us to make sure that we perform to the same level and the same manner that we've always tried to do here.

"I've been happy with what I've seen so far, we look fit and we look organised, but the players have got to start performing consistently."

The games come thick and fast for Daggers this week, as they also entertain Shrewsbury on Tuesday night, with the chance of revenge for last season's final day 2-1 defeat, that saw the Shrews grab the final play-off spot.

The sight of Shrews fans on the pitch after the match, lauding it in front of the home supporters won't be lost on the Daggers faithful, but Still isn't paying any attention to past meetings.

"Someone said to me are you looking to get one over them, but I said, not really as that's gone now," he smiled. "They were the team that got that spot, well done to them for doing that, this is another season.

"They showed last year they were a good side, they have lost a couple of players since, but we've lost half a team!

"I'm sure the supporters will look forward to it, but that's football isn't it?"

If Nurse is unfit, who should take his place on Saturday? Email: mike.simmonds@archant.co.uk

The Post is now on Twitter, so if you follow twitter.com/Post_DagRed then you will get up to the minute updates on goings on at Victoria Road.