JEFF WHITLEY IN FITNESS RACE FOR BURY CLASH
Dan Owen - Daily Post

JEFF WHITLEY has handed Wrexham boss Brian Little a boost ahead of tomorrow's crucial league match with Bury.

The midfielder was forced off at half time in the defeat at Adams Park with a knee injury, but is responding well to treatment.

The former Northern Ireland international could be in line for a start against the Shakers at the Racecourse - if he has shaken off a virus that saw him sent home from training yesterday.

Little said: "He looks like he is getting over his knee problem, but like a few of us here, he is suffering a little bit with flu.

"If he shakes off the virus then he could come back into contention for Saturday's game. Jeff has been in good form for us and will be missed if not available.

"He is another player with a lot of experience that you want in your side because he has seen it all before.

"But young Neil (Taylor) came on for him on Tuesday and did very well in midfield, so we do have other options if Jeff doesn't make it."

Taylor is adamant that the time for talking is now over and Wrexham have got to step up their performances if they are to stave off the threat of relegation.

The Dragons remain rooted to the foot of the table following their 2-1 midweek defeat to Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park, while Macclesfield's 1-0 win over Dagenham and Redbridge means Wrexham are six points off safety.

Taylor yesterday, along with fellow youngster Wes Baynes, signed a contract extension keeping them both at the Racecourse until 2010, is now turning his attention solely to helping the Dragons climb the table.

"Yeah obviously I'm delighted to be staying with Wrexham," said young full-back Taylor, who made his debut in the 5-0 defeat to Aston Villa in the Carling Cup.

"Despite where we are in the table, I have enjoyed my football and want to achieve things at Wrexham.

"We've been in talks for a little while, and I'm delighted to have done enough to get another contract, but I just want to put that to one side now and step up our efforts to get Wrexham out of trouble."

And Taylor admitted time was not on the side of the Dragons as they have only 12 games left in the season to pick up enough points to see them to safety.

"It is now getting to the time where we are starting to run out of games, and it is now at the stage where we have got to start saying we're going to sort it out, we actually have to go out there now and sort it out," added Taylor.

"The talking stops and now it is a situation where every game is going to be our cup final, until we get the job done."

Meanwhile, manager Brian Little paid tribute to Taylor and Baynes, and believes the duo are in the perfect place to continue their development in the game.

The pair have both been in impressive form since making their first team debuts this season, and Little admitted he was delighted to see the duo remaining on the books.

"With Neil and young Wes, they're both only 19 and the club have been talking to them for a little while about their futures," said Little.

"We feel that despite where we are in the league and how difficult it has been this season for them they are in the best place possible to develop as we are able to offer them first team football, and we are very pleased that the pair are staying on here."

RED ALERT: New boy Knill has shaken up things at Bury
Richard Williams - Wrexham Evening Leader

ALAN KNILL has transformed the fortunes of Bury since taking over as manager.

Knill took over from Chris Casper at Gigg Lane following a disastrous spell that saw the Shakers slide down the League Two table and into a relegation battle.

Bury went 11 league games without a league win - picking up just two points from a possible 33 - in a barren spell than stretched more than two months before Casper was sacked at the beginning of February.

But cue a revival under Knill, who was sacked as Rotherham boss last March and immediately took over as assistant manager to Lee Richardson at Chesterfield who allowed him to leave for Bury.

Although his return to management began with defeat, Knill has certainly turned things round during his month-and-half in the hotseat.

Bury have won five, drawn two and lost three matches since Knill took over, and that sequence has seen them pull clear of danger.

Such is their revival that Bury take on Wrexham tomorrow at The Racecourse in 16th position in the table and 12 points above the relegation zone.

And Bury go into the match as one of the form teams in the division having won their last three matches.

Victories against Brentford (4-1), Morecambe (2-1) and Rotherham (3-0) have taken Bury up the table and Knill is pleased with the progress made.

Speaking after Tuesday's win against promotion challengers Rotherham - his former club - Knill said: "We are going alright at the moment.

"We've made progress and that's all you can ask. We got eight points in February.

"A few people were saying to me that it was only eight points, but eight points is pretty good. If you can take eight points every month, then you are going to be pretty close to the play-offs.

"It was a good haul for us, especially as I had come in new and the players didn't know what to expect. It probably took us a couple of games to decide which way we were going to play."

Bury's resurgence has been helped by the form of star striker Andy Bishop.

Bishop has scored six goals in Bury's last three matches, contributing with a brace in each game, all of which ended in victories.

That means that Bishop has taken his tally this season to 23 goals, with 17 coming in the league.

There has been a lot of interest in the prolific striker, who was leading scorer last term with 21 goals in all competitions, with Norwich, Ipswich Town and Gillingham among the clubs keen on signing him.

As well as Bishop finding the net with regularity, a number of other players have been impressing the Gigg Lane faithful, including three players brought in by Knill.

Defender Efe Sodje was brought in on a one month-long loan deal from Gillingham which expires after tomorrow's trip to Wrexham.

Sodje has turned in some commanding displays at the heart of the Bury defence and Knill is hopeful the 35-year-old will extend his stay.

Goalkeeper Darren Randolph has joined on loan from Charlton Athletic and has played his part in Bury's revival, while striker Adam Rooney has now extended his loan deal from Stoke City and will be hoping to add to his one goal.

Prior to Knill's arrival, Elliott Bennett was also brought in on a temporary deal from Wolves and has caught the eye on the right flank.

Although Bury's position is a lot healthier than it was a few weeks ago, Knill is not taking anything for granted and knows his side must continue to produce the goods against Wrexham who won the corresponding fixture at Gigg Lane 1-0 last December thanks to a goal from Eifion Williams.

"That's three wins on the trot and probably three really good performances," said Knill.

"We go on to Wrexham now. There is no 'that's it, we might be safe', because you know that around the corner there is a shock coming so we have to do exactly this - guard against complacency and take all the positives from the Rotherham win, because there was plenty."

Randolph will continue in goal tomorrow while Steven Haslam, Ben Futcher, Sodje and David Buchanan are almost certain to continue in defence.

Bennett, Paul Scott, Brian Barry-Murphy and Nicky Adams lined up in midfield in the midweek win against Rotherham, while Bishop will either be partnered in attack by Rooney or Glynn Hurst.

The one to watch: Andy Bishop

STAR STRIKER Andy Bishop is in excellent goal scoring form during Bury's recent revival.

Bishop has scored six goals in Bury's last three matches, contributing with a brace in each game which all ended in victories, taking his tally this season to 23 strikes in all competitions.

The 25-year-old striker joined Bury in the summer of 2006 from York City and his debut season at Gigg Lane saw him grab 20 goals before injury cut short his season in mid-April.

A former Walsall trainee who made league appearances with Kidderminster Harriers, Rochdale and Yeovil Town, Bishop's goal-scoring exploits at Bury has sparked interest in him by a host of clubs.

WREXHAM'S TAYLOR READY FOR MIDFIELD ROLE AGAINST BURY
Richard Williams - Wrexham Evening Leader

NEIL TAYLOR is more than happy to come to Brian Little's rescue and continue in the centre of midfield against Bury tomorrow at The Racecourse (3pm).

The left-wing back was recalled to the Wrexham squad for Tuesday's trip to Wycombe Wanderers and with the Reds 2-0 down at the break, took to the pitch as substitute for the second half in a midfield role.

Taylor impressed alongside Chris Llewellyn, and the Wales under 21 international said he would play anywhere if it meant getting a starting place.

"It was good playing in the centre again," said Taylor today. "I played there a couple of times when I was younger but I was shifted out to the left of defence the last few years.

"I enjoyed it. I like getting about and I was happy with my performance.

"I am more than happy to play there again. With the size of the squad we've got, I would play in goal if I was asked to!

"You can't pick and choose. You will play anywhere to just to get a start. Wherever the gaffer wants me to play I will do."

Wrexham eventually lost 2-1 at promotion challenging Wycombe but the Reds put behind them a poor opening period and dominated after the interval, with leading scorer Michael Proctor pulling a goal back.

And Taylor said Wrexham have to put Tuesday's result behind them and target victory against Bury in the battle to avoid relegation: "I think everyone did better second half," he added.

"All three substitutes who came on did well and the players already on the pitch all got into it.

"Everyone came through, we were just disappointed we did not get anything out of the game.

"The second half was encouraging but we can't have a repeat of the first. We have got to get Tuesday out of the way now.

"We've got to go out all guns blazing tomorrow and hopefully win.

"We have got to look to win as we are at home to Bury, and the stage of the season we are at."

Taylor could come to manager Little's aid as midfielders Neil Roberts (ankle), Danny Sonner (Achilles) and Jeff Whitley (knee) are all carrying injuries.

The good news is that Whitley has not sustained knee ligament damage, but both he and Sonner are doubtful, and although Roberts did some training yesterday, the Bury game may be to soon for him.

But Little was pleased with Taylor's 45 minute display at Wycombe.

"We have a few problems in the centre of midfield, but we've got a group of players to call on," said Little, who could also call on Silvio Spann or the fit again Mark Jones and Danny Williams.

"One or two people might have to play out of position for a game or two.

"Neil was brilliant there on Tuesday because of his energy and enthusiasm. If he has to play there again, he will do and I know he will give everything.

"If it does not work I won't hold it against Neil because at least he will give it a go."

It was that eagerness in the second half at Wycombe that Little wants to see a repeat of against Bury - and not the sloppy mistakes in the opening period that led to the Reds' falling 2-0 behind.

"We gave two crazy goals away which, we have not done for a while, and we can't let that happen again," said Little.

"If you don't give silly goals away you have got a chance in every game.

"But the response was great. We changed the system slightly and played with energy and enthusiasm. We were on top and unlucky not to get at least a point.

"We have to play against Bury like we did second half with the situation we are in."

Defeat against Wycombe, combined with Macclesfield's win at Dagenham and Redbridge, leaves Wrexham six points from safety although the Reds do have three games in hand on the Silkmen who occupy that vital third from bottom position.

Wrexham entertain a Bury side who have won their last three matches and have begun to climb clear of the danger zone.

"Bury would be a great game for us to win and we have to be focused," added Little, who has defender Steve Evans and striker Rob Duffy (both knee) both sidelined with injury.

Centre-back Gareth Evans, who was brought on for the second half at Wycombe along with Taylor in place of Richard Hope and Phil Bolland, is pushing for a starting place along with midfielder Sam Aiston who had earlier replaced Whitley.

FAW WELCOMES PLATINI FA CUP INTERVENTION
Paul Abbandonato - Western Mail

WELSH football chiefs have welcomed the intervention of Michel Platini in the "big three" Euro ban fiasco and backed the English FA's decision to review their whole policy on the thorny issue.

Soho Square bosses said yesterday they would consider nominating Cardiff City for Europe if Dave Jones' side win the FA Cup.

The FA U-turn follows Platini's call for fairness for the Bluebirds, who were originally told they would not be eligible for the Uefa Cup if they lift the cup at Wembley.

FAW bigwigs have been exploring a route back into Europe for Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham by permitting their reserve teams to play in the Welsh Premier league. That plan will be discussed at a full FAW board meeting this month, but is unlikely to be met with enthusiasm by Platini.

However, Cardiff's march towards Wembley has brought the European injustice to the surface and the FA yesterday admitted they will look at the whole matter again.

Two years ago, the FA officially decided they would never nominate any of the Welsh big three for Europe in the event of them winning the FA Cup, League Cup or finishing high in the Premiership.

But an FA spokesman said yesterday, "In light of Cardiff City's success in reaching the semi-finals, we are considering our position on European qualification for FA Cup winners.

"Historically, the understanding of the FA has been that Welsh clubs were ineligible for the Uefa Cup should they have won the FA Cup.

"The question of eligibility for Welsh clubs has not arisen for many years, so it is only appropriate for us to look at the issue afresh as a result of Cardiff's success.

"At this time, there has been no definitive decision taken as far as this year's FA Cup is concerned.

"The FA has contacted Uefa and the FAW to ascertain their views. We are aware of the comments expressed by Michel Platini this week."

Platini declared that if the Bluebirds were barred from Europe, he would personally intervene on the matter.

The move met with the backing of FAW boss David Collins who said, "As far as we are concerned, this is the best way forward.

"We have always stated that Mr Platini is more favourable to the European case surrounding Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham than his predecessor was.

"I honestly think that if Cardiff were to win the FA Cup, Mr Platini would follow up his words and genuinely put pressure on the FA to let them play in the Uefa Cup.

"I'm sure Peter Ridsdale would not be happy if Cardiff were not let into Europe under such circumstances."

The minefield of our big three being ostracised has been a political football since the inception of the League of Wales.

An official strategic report for the future commissioned by the FAW recommends Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham qualify for the Champions League by having teams in the Welsh Premier, as well as the English system.

However, Collins believes that idea would not meet much favour amongst the Uefa hierarchy.

"It will be discussed in detail at our next board meeting when a number of decisions will be made," said Collins.

Uefa have strict criteria for teams playing in Europe, including one rule which says teams being nominated by a particular association must be domiciled in that country.

Cardiff, of course, play in England, but are based in Wales.

However, the FAW believe there is a loophole the FA could get around should the Bluebirds lift the cup.

Bluebirds boss Dave Jones welcomed Platini's insistence that Cardiff should be permitted into Europe, in the event of winning the FA Cup.

"It is nice of Platini to say that he will do that," said Jones.

"If we do fulfil the dream and bring the cup back to Cardiff, I am sure there will be a lot of people with a lot to say about the situation.

"But we have a tough game against Barnsley to think about before any of that."

Jones' Bluebirds climbed to 12th spot in the table after beating Hull on Wednesday and will look to continue the momentum by winning at Colchester tomorrow.