Higgins could be back in Rocks shirt for Margate trip (From Thurrock Gazette)

Coventry hoping that East Thurrock's Sam will be fit in tome for tomorrow's clash

7:00am Friday 25th January 2013 in Sport

NON-LEAGUE: Sam Higgins could return to the East Thurrock squad for tomorrow’s scheduled trip to Margate.

Rocks’ top-scorer has had a lengthy lay-off with a hamstring tear, but manager John Coventry said there’s a chance he may be on the bench at Hartsdown Park.

He said: “Higgo could be in the squad but it would only be to give him 10 minutes if we are in a position to do that in the game. He’s a long way off being match fit.”

Margate, third in the Ryman Premier, appointed their goalkeeper Craig Holloway as caretaker manager this week following the departure of Chris Kinnear to take over at Dover. Holloway has brought in former Margate favourite Danny Hockton and former Crystal Palace, Wolves, Gillingham and Walsall midfielder Simon Osborn, to assist him.

Coventry said: “When a new manager comes in like this you are never sure how a team will react. But they are third for a reason, so it will be tough.”

Margate appealed for volunteers to clear their pitch of snow this week in a bid to try and get tomorrow’s game on, and Coventry said the main concern is likely to be over whether it is water-logged.

The teams played out a goalless draw at Rookery Hill in early December in a match which Coventry felt they could easily have won.

Coventry said that Concord’s re-arranged league cup quarter-final with Wroxham on Tuesday has left them without a game that night, so he is trying to arrange a friendly.