WISBECH Town boss Steve Appleby today admitted he is in two minds over whether to sign loan players or rely on youngsters for their crunch Boxing Day clash.

Struggling Great Yarmouth Town’s failure to raise a side for Saturday’s Ridgeons Premier Division match has worsened supension problems for the Fenmen’s depleted squad.

Liam Nimmo, Anthony Reeve and Stacy Cartwright are now suspended for Monday’s vital trip to Ely City, while captain Scott Johnson and winger Ollie Gale are absent and midfielder Lewis Thompson is injured.

Appleby said: “We’re thin on the ground. I’m contemplating whether to give young lads from the reserves a chance or whether to bring in loan players.

“The thing is, it’s such a big game to stick somebody in and it might be expecting a bit too much. I’m still weighing it up.

“I’ve made a few inquiries for loans. A couple of players want to come to us permanently but I will not bring people in on false pretences.

“Sometimes you do think the gods are against you but we’ve got a good squad and hopefully we’ve got enough to get something.

“It’s just a case of get on with it, man up and give the best we can.”

Appleby said Yarmouth boss Mike Derbyshire had phoned him to apologise for the weekend’s postponed fixture and that it “was pretty clear that they have reached rock bottom”.

He said: “It’s easy to jump on the bandwagon and start having a go at them and it did make me angry at first. But at the end of the day it could be any team in that situation and you need all the help you can get.”

The Wisbech boss also revealed that Ely had denied a request from the Fenmen to put Monday’s 11am kick-off back to allow more time for travelling.

• HIGH-FLYING March Town United will be gunning for their fifth consecutive win when they host Downham Town on Boxing Day (Kick-off 11am).

The Hares, who sit third in the Ridgeons First Division, could be without injured captain Luke Pepper (ankle) and centre-back Adam Sutton (hamstring).