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Archived News from July 2003

CURLE ON TRIALISTS
31st July 2003 22:06


No decision on Stags trialists
CHAD website
STAGS boss Keith Curle remained non-committal last night over the future of on-trial central defenders Dave Artell and Luke Dimich.
Both impressed during the 1-0 defeat by Coventry City at Field Mill and Curle said: "There are players I would like to add to our squad and both of them gave a good account of themselves against Coventry and did themselves no harm at all."
Hopes of signing either of them will probably rest on chairman Keith Haslam with Curle on a tight budget and already having signed another central defender, Tony Vaughan, last week.
Artell was part of Rotherham United's promotion-winning side, though he tasted misery while on loan at Shrewsbury Town last year as they crashed out the Football League.
Dimich, who has been training with the club, is a former skipper of the Malta national side and is attracting interest from other clubs as well.
Striker Sheikh Kamara also continues to train with the club in a bid to get fit enough to do himself justice.
Overall, Curle was delighted with the work-out against Gary McAllister's men last night and said: "I thought we did well.
"We are not likely to come up against a better passing team in our division and we knew they would come here and cause us problems with their football.
"But I thought we matched them. The tempo was right for both teams to get something out of the game.
"The goal was unfortunate for Jamie Clarke. But he was in the right position where I had told him to be, covering the centre halves."
He was also delighted with another 55 promising minutes from striker Colin Larkin who looks to be winning his battle against his hamstring problems.
"Colin is looking very sharp but we are still trying to protect him and any sign of tiredness and is comes off," said Curle.
"He has put a lot of hard work in over the summer at Lilleshall, missing out on time with his family, and it is hopefully now paying off for him on the field."
On Saturday Stags travel to Conference club Scarborough for their final full first team pre-season friendly.
But, whether due to injuries or a desire to keep it under wraps, Curle said it was unlikely he would field what he feels will be his starting XI to face Kidderminster Harriers the week after.

 

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