Yeovil Town captain Luke McCormick will miss Saturday's National League trip to Kidderminster Harriers. Manager Billy Rowley confirmed the midfielder's absence is due to an internal matter and is his own decision.
"It was an internal matter I had with Luke, at the moment he’s unavailable for selection and that’s just my decision," Rowley told reporters on Thursday. The 27-year-old, who has scored six goals this season, was also not involved in the Somerset Men’s Premier Cup clash with Radstock Town and was absent from the squad for the 4-1 win over Solihull Moors on 18 September. Rowley provided further context on the team's current state. The manager believes they could have three or four more points on the board if not for these disruptions.
Squad reshuffle and fitness news
With McCormick out, defender Joe Gubbins will continue as captain. The Glovers have received a boost with defender Ben Radcliffe back in full training, while midfielder Joe Haigh is described as training hard and being very close to a return. Loick Ayina remains suspended for the upcoming match. Rowley said the team is "by no means at full tilt yet," a situation fans can monitor via the club's injuries page. The manager must now consider his options from the full squad for the challenging fixture.
Form and the challenge ahead
Yeovil head into the game seventh in the National League, having taken 15 points from their opening nine matches, a position detailed in the full standings. Their recent form shows two wins, one draw and two losses from the last five, a sequence that includes that emphatic 4-1 victory over Solihull Moors.
The task at Aggborough Stadium is a significant one. Kidderminster Harriers sit third in the table and are unbeaten in their last five matches, having lost just once all season. The team's next assignment after this is a home match against Dagenham & Redbridge.
This story first appeared at Somerset Live
