LEE CLARK is hoping Danny Cadamarteri will be back on Town duty within a month.
Town’s physio staff have decided against sending the 29-year-old for a scan on the calf problem suffered in a pre-match warm-up.
That’s because the frontman, injured before the 1-1 home draw with Hartlepool a week ago, has responded well to treatment.
Cadamarteri, who played a key role when Town won 2-1 at Leeds in November, will be hugely disappointed to miss out on Saturday’s Galpharm re-match against one of his former clubs. But the man who has also played for Everton, Bradford, Sheffield United and Leicester has been lifted by the news that the injury is not as bad as first feared.
"Cads has had wretched luck with injuries and he was distraught last week," reported Clark, who after the postponement of a private practice match against Liverpool, led his squad through another indoor training session yesterday as he continues to build towards his first West Yorkshire derby.
"But he’s been lifted by the improvement and is getting back to his old self.
"Danny’s not only a very good footballer, he’s also a great bloke to have around the place because he’s got such a bubbly and enthusiastic personality.
"He’s been brilliant both on and off the pitch since I arrived, and I was almost as gutted as him when he got the injury.
"The latest reports are that we’re looking at three to four weeks out, which is far from ideal but not as bad as it might have been.
"He’s getting the best medical attention we can give him, and I know he’ll work as hard as possible to ensure his spell on the sidelines is as short as he can make it."
While there is no problem with the Galpharm pitch, yesterday’s scheduled clash with Liverpool was called off to protect the surface ahead of Saturday’s eagerly-awaited Leeds showdown, which kicks off at noon.
Town and AFC Emley officials were today checking the Welfare Ground ahead of tomorrow’s scheduled reserve clash with York (2.00), which represents new development coach Paul Stephenson’s first match at the second-team helm.
Meanwhile, Clark will tonight be monitoring the involvement of goalkeeper Alex Smithies and midfielder James Berrett in international matches.
Smithies is in the England Under 19 squad for the clash against Spain at Bournemouth while Berrett is with the Republic of Ireland Under 21s, who face Germany in Cork.
