STRUGGLING Tranmere Rovers, fifth from bottom of the Nationwide League Division One following their ninth defeat of the season by Port Vale, go into Saturday's tough date with Bradford City at the Pulse Stadium (kick-off 3pm) with a major goalkeeping crisis.

A groin injury looks certain to rule out first choice 'keeper Danny Coyne and his deputy, Steve Simonsen, is playing for England Under-18s on Friday evening.

The problem for player-manager John Aldridge is he can't pull Simonsen out of the England squad due to FA rules - and if he decides not to get another goalkeeper on loan as cover, Simonsen might have to play two games in less than 24 hours.

A further worrying scenario is if Simonsen was to pick up an injury while on England duty, Mr Aldridge would be left with untried youngsters, 17-year-old YTS Gareth Powell and first year YTS Joe Murphy, who is only 16, as cover.

Tranmere are already without 10 goal striker David Kelly (on World Cup duty with the Republic of Ireland) and midfielder Gary Jones, who serves a one match ban for his sending-off at Sheffield United, and Mr Aldridge may recall himself to bolster a depleted attack.

Bradford City, with their strike force of Brazilian Edinho and former Bolton star, new signing John McGinlay, will make it tough for Rovers.

Mr Aldridge wants his side to start picking up points on their travels. "We've got to start getting results away from home," he told me. "We've got to defend better. They know that and it's up to the lads to get it right. I've got belief in the players and they've got to get behind me and help me out as a manager."

Tranmere are trying to strike up a deal with Everton to retain the services of goalkeeping coach Mervyn Day. Since being sacked by Carlisle, Day has been Rovers' part-time goalkeeping coach, but has since been appointed by Everton as a full-time goalkeeping coach.

Said Mr Aldridge: "We're trying to sort something out with Everton and maybe our goalkeeper can work with Mervyn over there. He has really helped our goalkeepers, who have come on in leaps and bounds, and has worked them hard."

News on Rovers' foreign imports, Portuguese star Mauro and German Dirk Heble. Both have not been able to break into the first team yet and Mr Aldridge gave his verdict on their progress so far.

"Mauro has been very unfortunate with two bad injuries, but has started to make progress," he enthused. "Dirk has taken longer to settle. He's not good enough to get into the first team yet and has got to work harder. It's a different mentality than he's been used to abroad."

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