DOIN' IT THE SHAY WAY!

GATES HEAD have so many injuries they will barely need a mini bus for this afternoon’s journey to Wembley

- CHRIS DUNLAVY

But don’t expect FC Halifax Town boss Chris Millington to underestimate the Heed’s walking wounded as he bids to take the FA Trophy back to the Shay for the first time since 2016.

“Listen, we’ve all got injuries,” said the 47-year-old, whose opponents are reported to have just 13 players fit and firing. “At this stage in the season, everyone is physically spent.

“But if you put Gateshead’s strongest available XI on the pitch then it’s a very formidable team with some outstanding players.

“Both goalkeepers are very talented and fit into their style very well. The back three are all excellent on the ball. The forward line is up there with the best in the league.

“We know Aaron Martin very well from his time here and I think Gregg Olley and Adam Campbell would get into any National League team.

“I haven’t even mentioned Dan Ward so you look at that and you’ve got an awful lot of very, very good footballers at this level. We’ve got a lot of respect for all of them.

“Okay, so they aren’t at full strength. But what they are is a team of very good players who can hurt anybody – at our level or probably even above – if you give them the opportunity to get on the ball and dominate possession.

“We’re very aware of their strengths, and we won’t fall into the trap of thinking that they’re in any way weakened.”

Not that respect should be mistaken for fear. Since stepping up from a coaching role to replace the popular Pete Wild and overseeing an exodus of experienced players last summer, Millington has endured several rocky spells.