Opportunity Knocks For Brooker As Coppell Faces Crisis

Last updated : 28 August 2004 By Rob Cooper
International duty and injury have combined to offer Paul Brooker a rare first team opportunity.

The 27-year-old, who signed on a free transfer from Leicester in the summer, will solve Coppell's midfield crisis and deputise for missing duo Glen Little and Bobby Convey when Sunderland come to town next Tuesday.

With both Glen Little and Bobby Convey set to miss the game, Steve Coppell is likely to play Andy Hughes on the right, and put Paul Brooker out on the left.

Ex-Burnley winger Little will miss Tuesday's game with a recurrence of the hamstring injury that has been bothering him in recent weeks.

The 28-year-old limped out of this afternoon's game at Millwall and is unlikely to play again for three weeks.

Little had recently been forced him to miss our wins against Sheffield United and Rotherham because of the injury.

Meanwhile, USA international Bobby Convey will miss Tuesday's game as he will be preparing for his countries upcoming world cup qualifiers.

However, mega-money signing Convey will return from international duty in time to play for the Royals in our next game, away at Derby on Saturday 11th September.