BEN Garratt is in line to make his first League One start for the Brewers at Southend with Kieran O’Hara struggling with an ankle injury that forced him off at Ipswich on Saturday.
Garratt came on just before the break for his Brewers league debut and looks likely to continue at Roots Hall on Saturday (kick off 3pm).
Brewers manager Nigel Clough: “Kieran hasn’t trained this week so is a doubt. Their lad just landed on Kieran’s ankle and he couldn’t continue. It’s not too bad, but I’m not sure he will be ready for Saturday. We think another 10 days he should be absolutely fine. We won’t risk him and we have to be responsible with him being someone else’s player and make sure he’s fine before he plays again.
“We have no problem with putting Ben in if we have to. He acquitted himself very well for that 45 minutes on Saturday. He made a great save right before half time as soon as he came on and a couple more later on. He had no chance with the goals and was very unlucky with their fourth as he has made the save and scrambled back and pushed it away and we don’t think it was over the line. “
Clough is also likely to be missing several experienced defenders. Colin Daniel, John-Joe O’Toole and Jake Buxton all didn’t play at Ipswich.
Clough said: “Colin is back in training but I’m not sure if he will be fit enough for Saturday. Jake is still struggling with his ribs and John-Joe with his groin. It’s a few possibles and maybes for Saturday.”
That missing defensive experience isn’t helping the Brewers’ quest for a clean sheet.
Clough said: “All we feel we are lacking is cutting out the defensive errors, as our performances are good, we are creating chances and scored another good goal at Ipswich. In the last six we haven’t won but have been ahead in four of those six games. What we need to do is improve defensively.”