Gary McDonald is the latest Latics player to join the increasing list who are sidelined through injury. He was playing at right back but had to hobble off after just fifteen minutes at Yeovil on Saturday. The 24 year old then had the igdominity of being yellow carded for returning to the field of play without permission. McDonald's injury was the result of a bad foul and he had to leave the game permanently after twenty minutes but the incident incensed Athletic manager John Sheridan.Sheridan commented, “It was an absolute joke that the player got away with that tackle. He wrapped his legs around Gary McDonald and could have seriously hurt him. We don't how bad it is yet, but what the referee saw in that situation is beyond me. You see people being booked for silly little things, then a player goes in two-footed and nothing gets done about it. I'm very disappointed by what happened and I just hope Gary's injury isn't too serious. Referees these days drive you mad because they want to be the centre of attention and the game is always stop-start. I'm glad I don't play any more because the whistle is never out of their mouth. It's ridiculous.” McDonald is expected to be sidelined for 2-3 weeks.
Speaking of his replacement, Kelvin Lomax, Shez added, “Kelvin did quite well, so maybe this will be a chance for him to play some regular first-team football. He's an intelligent player and I'm not afraid to have him in the team, but we are getting quite short of numbers now.”