ADAM CROOKES will miss York City’s opening match of the Vanarama National League season through injury.

Adam Hinshelwood attended his first pre-match press conference of the competitive season on Thursday afternoon and confirmed that York would be without two key members of his squad for their trip to Southend on Saturday, August 10 (3pm).

Crookes has struggled with injuries throughout pre-season, only featuring on three occasions, with Hinshelwood considering placing the defender on a specific programme to help monitor his progress.

But with the new National League season getting underway on Saturday, Hinshelwood will also be without goalkeeper Rory Watson, who is following concussion protocols after a collision in last Saturday’s 3-3 draw with Spennymoor Town to wrap up pre-season.

Hinshelwood confirmed: “Adam Crookes has picked up a quad problem.

“It’s not a long one, but he’s one that has picked up quite a few niggles in pre-season, which has been disappointing.

“When he has played, he has been excellent so I was keen for him to get good minutes against Spennymoor in the last game of pre-season.

“I have a real view of him playing and being a part of it, but this Saturday will come too soon, we’re hoping for the following Saturday.

“Other than that it is probably a full clean bill of health, Rory will obviously miss the match through the concussion protocols.

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“I think it’s literally Monday when he can come back to training, again that is two very good players for us.

“When that is said and done, there was a time where we didn’t think that we would have Ashley Nathaniel-George available, we’d have Len [Lenell John-Lewis] available, Ty’s [Tyrese Sinclair] knee was a bit sore, so I’m glad that all of those guys have come through okay and that they will be available for Saturday.”

Hinshelwood also provided an update on the progress of long-term absentees Levi Andoh and Callum Harriott, with the former not featuring in competitive football for just shy of a year.

Andoh had spoken to the Press earlier this week on his eagerness to be back involved, with Hinshelwood confirming that plans were in place for a behind-closed-doors friendly to further examine the match fitness of the duo.

Levi Andoh could be set for a loan move away from York City. (Image: Tom Poole)

The City boss also hopes to send Andoh out on loan once he regains his fitness, whilst keeping Harriott within the first-team squad.

“Levi’s certainly getting there, he had 20 minutes or so and we want to try and get an in-house game next Tuesday for Levi and Callum Harriott,” Hinshelwood updated.

“Hopefully they’ll be able to get some minutes, but when they have been out for so long, we’ve really got to take our time with them.

“As soon as you see the amount they do on the grass and in training, they want to be involved and you want to involve them, but we’ve definitely got to take our time with them two.

“It might even be a case of when the season has started, we might try and get some games arranged, but as soon as they get some match fitness then we will potentially look at giving them minutes elsewhere if needed.

“More so probably for Levi than Callum, but it’s definitely something to consider over the next couple of weeks.

“We’ve done so much football lately and we don’t want to rush them back, it’s been good to see them in the group but now it’s a case of taking the right protocols and making sure that they are fully fit, and ready for action.

“I know that Levi in particular, since I’ve come, I haven’t really seen him sprint let alone touch a ball.

“We’ve really got to manage that one. I think he’s had a bit of a hit where he has been training a bit more, but more regularly he is picking up other little niggles like his hip flexor and things like that.

“It’s a case of managing that load with the data we get through day to day, it really helps with that.

“Callum Harriott is one that we’re going to have to manage for sure, he’s got to be able to train on the same schedule as the other boys, it’s not a case of him training one day and then missing the next day, which is not ideal.

“Ultimately, we want Callum on the pitch more often than he has been.”

Hinshelwood himself struggled with long-term injuries during his playing career, and reflected on his spell with Wycombe Wanderers, where he would often find himself training just once a week.

The gaffer plots to work with newly-appointed physio Sam Mannings to produce a programme for these longer-term absentees, who he hopes can feature again for York.

“I was one of them at Wycombe, it’s not nice,” Hinshelwood stated.

“Travelling up I was club captain, I didn’t train, I only trained on the Friday.

“It was tough, seeing all of your mates out there training and you’re just sat on a bike watching them train.

“Ultimately, you just want to be able to perform when it matters, which is on a gameday.

“That’s something that a couple of the players, even Len to a certain extent, might have to look at, to have his own sort of programme.

“With Sam coming in, our new physio, he has been excellent with that and has given the lads a good programme.

“We’re trying to get the protocols in place where we can test the players and see how their hamstring strength is on a weekly and daily basis, to see if they’re available to train.

“Maybe with Crookesy as well, we’ll have to look and monitor them to make sure that they are available for as many matches as possible.”

Callum Harriott remains a part of Adam Hinshelwood's plans at York City.Callum Harriott remains a part of Adam Hinshelwood's plans at York City. (Image: Tom Poole)