Salford City v Harrogate Town: Simon Weaver keen to avoid 'new territory' for beleaguered Sulphurites
AHEAD of Harrogate Town's fifth experience of Boxing Day football as an English Football League club, Simon Weaver is unlikely to be spotted wearing a Santa hat.
A tin hat is more appropriate for the embattled Sulphurites manager, given the dearth of options currently at his disposal, with his beleaguered side low on options and points of late, let alone festive spirit.
Without a league win in 11 matches since September 27, second-from-bottom Town's woes have been compounded by a potentially increasing injury count, heading into their clash at Moor Lane.
It has shown no signs of relenting either, with senior duo Levi Sutton (hamstring) and Conor McAleny (groin) struggling for the trip across the Pennines.
Both are exactly the sort of senior professionals whom Harrogate could currently do with amidst their worrying run, their worst league sequence since coming into the EFL in 2020-21.
They will be assessed ahead of the Roses clash, with the competitiveness of training sessions having been stymied by the sheer number of players who Harrogate currently have unavailable.
Weaver, whose side face two key away tests in Lancashire before 2026 commences at home to Tranmere Rovers on New Year's Day, said: "We cannot do much in training because of the risk factor, which doesn't help either.
"We've just got to keep digging in. That's the nature of the beast in this job at the minute. It's not easy by any stretch.
"That (Sutton and McAleny) would take it to 12 or 13 out which is new territory. But we'll dig in. We have a couple of subs who came on, on Saturday, who fared well and it will be good for confidence levels."