ROB DUFFY CAN STRIKE RIGHT BALANCE
Richard Williams - Wrexham Evening Leader

BRIAN LITTLE is giving Rob Duffy his first Wrexham start at League Two leaders MK Dons on Saturday because he feels the striker is the ideal replacement for Drewe Broughton.

The Reds' boss today confirmed that Duffy will start in place of Broughton, who has recently joined Wrexham on an one month loan deal but is ineligible to play against his parent club.

Duffy, who has extended his loan spell until the end of the season after joining from Conference Premier division outfit Oxford United in a one-month deal, has made two substitute appearances for Wrexham and also scored four goals in two reserve team outings.

And Little today said that 25-year-old Duffy deserved the chance to show what he can do: "Drewe is out so it gives Rob a chance to stake his claim."

"The presence of a big centre forward has obviously changed the direction of the team so Rob is the obvious replacement. He has scored in each reserve team game he has played and is a natural scorer.

"Hopefully Rob will do well for us and do well for himself. It is a big chance for him."

Duffy was a late substitute in the 0-0 draw at Peterborough last weekend which extended Wrexham's unbeaten run to five matches.

It was the first time since he took over as manager at The Racecourse that Little named an unchanged side, but due to Broughton being unavailable on Saturday, Little is forced into at least once new face in the team at stadium:mk, but he said results during the Reds' recent upturn in fortunes justified him making few changes.

"The result and performance against Darlington warranted everyone getting another chance," said Little. "They did nothing wrong and it seemed the right thing to do.

"Mike Williams got his chance because Richard Hope was suspended and took it, so he kept his place. If you get in and do well you stay in.

"I pick the team I think is right - I never pick people for the sake of it.

"If the team keeps winning then I don't want to change things.

"Four or five weeks ago, if I changed the team every week no-one could have moaned."

To the delight of Little, competition for places is hotting up, captain Hope and striker Michael Proctor are pushing for recalls and a number of injured players are close to a possible return.

Left-wing back Carl Tremarco (hamstring) will be available for the trip to Paul Ince's Dons while strikers Paul Hall and Eifion Williams (both hamstring) are also close to full fitness, and midfielder Mark Jones (hamstring) is making good progress.

Midfielder Danny Williams, out for four months out following an operation to cure a long standing back problem, marked his comeback with a 45 minute appearance in the reserves' 2-1 win against Accrington Stanley at Plaskynaston last night. Marc Williams and Wes Baynes scoring the goals.

And Little welcomed the imminent return of experienced professionals, adding: "Things will happen that means there will be changes - a few people are on four bookings. Things are changing and competition for places is picking up among the senior players.

"Richard Hope played another game last night and Michael Proctor is looking stronger, and we know we have got Carl coming back.

"Paul and Eifion are nearly fully fit, Mark is on the road and Danny played a part in the reserve game so it is looking good."

SAM AISTON WILLING TO BIDE HIS TIME
Richard Williams - Wrexham Evening Leader

SAM AISTON appreciates why he has to be play a waiting game to win a place back in the Wrexham side.

Aiston has now recovered from an ankle injury that sidelined him for four matches and the 31-year-old has been an unused substitute in Wrexham's last two matches against Darlington, which ended in a 2-0 win, and last weekend's draw at Peterborough United.

Although hoping to regain his place in the side, Aiston understands why manager Brian Little has made few changes during the five-game unbeaten run that the Reds currently find themselves on.

"I have been struggling with my ankle the last few weeks but I am fit again now," said Aiston today. "You can't complain being on the substitutes' bench when you are unbeaten in five matches. That is the way it should be.

"I am just waiting for my chance to come on or start a game - when you get your chance you have to take it.

"If standards slip you won't be in the team and there are people to come in and replace you.

"It is a nice position to be in given that the team is doing so well, so I am not worried about it.

"Spirits are brilliant and all the lads are desperate to get in the team. But there is no bitching because we need to pull together."

Aiston was Little's first signing when he took over as manager in November, originally joining the Reds on loan from League One outfit Northampton Town.

The move has since been made permanent, with Aiston, who has made seven league starts and one substitute appearance for the Reds, signing an 18 month deal.

"Everything is sorted and I am pleased with that," added Aiston. "It's going well and I'll just knuckle down and make sure Wrexham stay in the league.

"We struggled before this unbeaten run but I knew that when the transfer window reopened it was just a matter of time before we picked up."

PHIL BOLLAND - I'VE LANDED ON MY FEET AT RACECOURSE
Mark Currie - Daily Post

VETERAN defender Phil Bolland reckons he has landed on his feet at Wrexham after being declared surplus to requirements by Chester City manager Bobby Williamson at the end of last year.

Following a four-week trial spell, the 31-year old former City captain joined the Dragons last month for the remainder of the campaign and has been on the losing side only once in five games.

But even he was startled to learn of his inclusion in the Football League's team of the week - a result of his display in last Saturday's 0-0 draw at Peterborough.

"That's a really pleasant surprise," he said. "I've had a brilliant time since I first came to the club and I've enjoyed every minute of it so far, but it's always nice to get a bit of recognition.

"I had a really good feeling about Wrexham when I came in on trial and it was good to have that time because it gave me an opportunity to get to know the lads and the staff. It meant I was really comfortable about joining the club when the offer came last month."

Looking back on the circumstance of his Chester exit, Bolland said he had no axe to grind with boss Bobby Williamson.

"I'd been there for nearly five years and was captain for the last couple of seasons, but the new man came in and he obviously wanted to bring in his own players," Bolland added.

"I wasn't playing and I did feel maybe I wasn't given a fair crack of the whip, but that's football and I've been in the game long enough to know these things happen.

"I don't bear the manager any grudge and, in fact, I believe his decision has worked in my favour because I've joined Wrexham. The facilities here are a hundred times better than at Chester and it feels like I'm at a proper football club again."

One of 11 transfer window recruits brought in by Racecourse boss Brian Little, the big defender said his long-term future was less important than the Dragons' battle against relegation.

"I've signed until the end of the season and then we'll take things from there," he added. "The immediate priority is to keep the club in the Football League and that's the thought uppermost in everyone's mind.

"It's all hands to the pumps at the moment and we are confident we can pull ourselves out of trouble."

Wrexham travel to League Two leaders MK Dons on Saturday on the back of a five-match unbeaten run and the team have not conceded a goal in their previous two outings, a record Bolland is hoping to extend.

"Myself, Steve Evans and Mike Williams have done well in the last two games, but other lads like Pej (Shaun Pejic) and Hopey (Richard Hope) have played their part as well," he said.

"The lads in midfield have been doing their fair share of defensive work too, as well getting the ball up front to players who can get us goals. We leave the strikers to get on with what they do best.

"We seem to revel in the games against the sides at the top of the table and if we can keep this run going for another couple of games, we'll have done extremely well.

"We'll then have a series of games against sides in and around us and, although we are bottom as it stands, I know from experience everyone can take points off everyone else.

"We are feeling very confident at the moment that we will start to turn things round, sooner rather than later."

Meanwhile, 25-year-old Oxford United striker Rob Duffy will stay on loan at Wrexham for the remainder of the season.