Exeter City manager Matt Taylor will give captain Jake Taylor every possibility of declaring himself fit for Tuesday’s trip to Oldham Athletic in League Two.
The 27-year-old limped out of the Grecians’ 1-1 draw with Swindon Town on Saturday after suffering a dead leg with his manager declaring it was highly unlikely that the one-time Reading trainee would feature at Boundary Park.
If he does miss out, then Matt Jay, who scored City’s goal after replacing the captain on Saturday, is expected to be given a starting chance after a superb cameo role against the Robins.
“Jake Taylor picked up a dead leg in the first half and when it stiffens up as badly as it did, it affects his mobility,” Taylor said. “It’s not a pain issue, it’s a mobility issue and we felt – and Jake felt – it was the right thing to do.
“We will see how he is, but I’d be very surprised if he is available on Tuesday.
“We have an issue with Randell (Williams) as well. I kept him on against Swindon just to keep him moving and to keep him involved and hoping that one bit of ability or speed from him could get us something, so we will assess them before Tuesday and see how they are.
“It highlights, with Tom Parkes being suspended and them getting injured, MJ coming on and Aaron Martin playing, the reason we have a good, strong squad. It's for these moments and we have said this time and time again: it is the squad that will get you success.”
City will also have new right-back Jayden Richardson available for the trip to Boundary Park after he missed Saturday’s game with Swindon.
The 18-year-old Nottingham Forest loanee is unlikely to be thrown straight into the starting XI just yet, but will provide competition in an area weak in numbers with Pierce Sweeney the only recognised right-back in the Grecians’ squad.
“That deal didn’t go through in terms of the deadline, which we were disappointed with, but he will be available for Tuesday, so we have got enough bodies. I have no problem with that because we are well covered,” Taylor added.
“Now it is an opportunity for some of those that feel they didn’t quite do themselves justice last week at Coventry to get that opportunity against Oldham.
“When you go up north, you have to roll your sleeves up, but we have to play as well and we have to look forward to it as well. That’s two good performances in terms of the Stevenage and Macclesfield games, results-wise, and there were two good teams on Saturday.”
The Grecians have managed to score in each if their four games so far this season, but chances have been something of a premium. That is something not lost on Taylor, who admits his team have to improve in the final third.
“Ryan Bowman did a lot of work in and around the middle third and half way line, but how many times has he had a jump against their centre half in their box?" he said.
“There is work to do in terms of that but, like I said, I think Swindon are a really good team and you can see that by the results they have had so far this season.”
