Waterford captain to miss Cup tie

WATERFORD UNITED captain John Frost will spend tonight’s FAI Carlsberg Cup second round tie against Everton in a hospital bed rather than at Turner’s Cross as doctors strive to locate a leak in his lung.

The defender picked up the unusual injury during the Blues' 2-1 Eircom League victory over Cork City at the RSC on Friday night but did not realise he had come to any harm until later that night.

Waterford manager Jimmy McGeough said: "He was sitting at home after the game and felt his neck and throat become swollen. He could stick his finger deep into his neck through the skin and so he went straight to hospital and he's been there ever since.

"They still haven't found the leak but he's having more and more tests. It's obviously a worry for him and he hasn't eaten for four days.

"We didn't know how it happened, it must just have been a knock, one of those things. He'll be a big loss to us, he's an inspirational captain."

Frost will definitely miss the Cup tie against Munster Senior League outfit Everton while a couple of niggling injuries to other key players are also worrying McGeough.

Leading scorer Daryl Murphy damaged his groin against City on Friday night and came off after just 30 minutes. McGeough said he trained yesterday morning in the gym and was seeing a physio last night but whatever the outcome of that meeting he would not start.

Another doubt is Alan Reilly, who damaged a knee against Bohs and missed the Cork City victory but is still only a 50/50 chance to play tonight.

McGeough who has also seen knee injuries claim Wayne Fitzgerald for at least a month and Davy Mulcahy for eight weeks with another three to go can at least welcome back Willie Byrne after a groin strain.

But the boss admitted: "We're getting killed with injuries but we'll put the best team out that we can against Everton. We beat them in the Munster Senior Cup semi-final in April but that doesn't indicate a thing. This is a cup tie and anything can happen. But I'm glad we're playing at Turners Cross because we always seem to play well there."

Everton have proved to be a good cup side this season, reaching the last 16 of the FAI Intermediate Cup and the last four of the Munster senior Cup before that 2-0 defeat at Waterford. McGeough added:

"It is a no-win situation for us but that's the beauty of the competition, the minnows against the bigger fish. But we'll certainly give it our best shot."

Everton have key personnel missing as well with manager Pat Browne having to plan without the holidaying Richie Barry, John Desmond, Philip Hayes and Gavin O'Leary.