To be fair, they've always liked having at least three or four in the squad, so five's not too much of a step up, but stringing five across the goal line is an ingenious idea!
Actually, of course, it's not quite as simple as that. The current holder of the starting shirt, Tom Heaton (pictured), who's been in pretty spectacular form of late can't play tomorrow 'cause he's on the telly (Soccer AM). Or rather, he apparently needs a groin operation so he's out for a bit. The lad who started the season as number 1 - David Marshall, who's fallen out of favour has had surgery on an elbow injury - or maybe he's out of favour because he's had elbow surgery, so he's out - possibly for the rest of the season. City's 3rd choice 'keeper, the young, inexperienced at first team level, and it has to be said, very short, Jordan Santiago has a broken finger so he's out too. City's GK coach, who was a fine keeper, and is a great coach, Martyn Margetson probably isn't registered to play. So with City fighting for an automatic play-off spot, finding not one, but two 'keepers to come in and provide cover was an absolute necessity.
Earlier this week, after a bit on "is it on, is it off?", it looked like former England stopper Chris Kirkland, currently with Wigan was coming, but for various reasons, that's fallen through.
I can't say I'm dreadfully disappointed. Kirkland is undeniably a great keeper when he's fit, but he's had such a torrid time with injury - it would have been City's luck to get him, and then end up with him getting blown over by a gust of wind in the first match and dislocating a shoulder or his back going. On reflection, maybe just as well.
So City have turned to Blackburn and Derby, securing the services of one of Wales's own, Jason Brown, and Stephen Bywater - who if I remember correctly (it does, I just checked on Wikipedia) served for a brief loan spell with City back in 2002.
There's no easy ride for either of these guys. City are home against Ipswich tomorrow, and it's on the telly, at the unusual (for City) starting time of 5:20pm. Dave Jones will have a tough call deciding who starts, as I don't think either of them have had too much action recently. Brown of course is with a Premiership team, so perhaps the favour is with him. We'll see soon enough.
It's another big match for City. They're coming thick and fast now. Our recent record against Ipswich, home or away isn't great, but we need to win this one and keep the pressure on at the top of the table.
And finally, congratulations to the Jacks manager Brendon Rogers has just won the Manager of the Month award. That's usually a catalyst for an alarming slump in form. Let's hope it holds true..
Up the City!!!!
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