Cork clash comes at 'difficult time' with Wexford amid player crisis

Wexford hurling manager Keith Rossiter said he will be fielding an "experimental" team in their league opener against Cork due to so many first choice players being unavailable. 

DOWN UNDER: Wexford hurling manager Keith Rossiter is unsure when Lee Chin, who is currently in Australia, will be back in contention. Picture: Ray McManus/Sportsfile

WEXFORD manager Keith Rossiter has seen his squad decimated ahead of their Allianz National Hurling League Division 1A opener with Cork at Chadwicks Wexford Park on Saturday evening.

Rossiter, already dealing with the absence of Matthew O'Hanlon and Dee O'Keeffe, both retired, has seen their player crisis grow over recent weeks.

As Rossiter continually awaits updates on his lengthy injury list, he will now be forced to kick on without the services of full-forward Conor McDonald.

And Rossiter said: "We did not expect to be facing such an injury crisis. Conor (McDonald) is recovering from a muscular problem. It will be the latter end of the league, at least, before we will see Conor. He still has a lot of work to do and some way to go."

And Rossiter added: "We've a growing list of injuries. We now have added Damian Reck to the list. Damian suffered a hamstring pull against Kildare last Sunday week. Given his previous problems (hamstring) it's likely he will be out of this opener.

"Then you go away from the above list and we add a whole group of players who are unavailable for Cork.

"Lee Chin is not yet back from Australia and will miss much of the league, Liam Ryan has undergone recent surgery and is also a long term absentee, while Jack O'Connor (hamstring) is also missing."

Clearly rattled by the loss of so many key players, Rossiter is still awaiting a decision from Liam Óg McGovern as to his future.

"We hope to have some finalisation with Liam Óg this week. That's as much as I can say at the moment, but the Foley brothers, Paudi and Oisin, will not be available for this season.

"We know we face a huge challenge in Cork. This game comes at a difficult time for us, but we just have to be ready to meet the challenge.

"We'll be fielding quite an experimental side, but it's still an opportunity for these players to step up to the mark. We've been dealt a hard hand, but the squad has been training hard since early December. It's an opportunity for this group of players. Whatever happens, life goes on, we then have to pick ourselves up for Tipperary and Kilkenny over the following weeks."

Rossiter is fully aware of what Cork will bring to the table.

"Look, Cork have a huge squad coming from successful under-age sides. We have had a decent run at U20 level so a lot of those players are coming through. They may be somewhat inexperienced at this level but it's a challenge for them, one they should look forward to."

Rossiter is not yet sure of when Lee Chin will be back in contention.

"While he has been training away in Australia, we will not know his level of fitness until he returns. Once he resumes training, one can expect some niggling injuries as he tries to push on.

"The big thing is to have him back in the squad. Hopefully we will also have others back but it looks like the second half of the league before we see Lee (Chin). While it's important to have him back we still must monitor his fitness," added Rossiter.