Billericay Town squad update - November 2024

Speaking to club media, Billericay Town boss Gary McCann shared insights into his side’s new additions, current injury situation, and frustrations over two consecutive draws against Whitehawk and Chatham Town. The Blues have bolstered their ranks this week with the introduction of young forward Jonas Mukuna and midfielder Arjanit Krasniqi, who returns on loan for a second stint at the Essex club. However, McCann’s side still faces significant challenges with player availability ahead of a challenging schedule.

Mukuna, a 19-year-old talent, arrives with experience from EFL academies, having spent time at Leyton Orient, QPR, and later with League Two’s Walsall. After brief stints with Farnborough and Havant & Waterlooville last term, Mukuna arrives at New Lodge at a crucial time. As McCann stated, “the timing is perfect for reinforcements.” Revealing that Mukuna had recently trained with Colchester United, McCann admitted that Mukuna “wanted a little higher than us”, however, with six games in 21 days ahead, the Blues’ boss highlighted the urgency in securing reinforcements in forward areas.

Krasniqi, meanwhile, is a familiar face at New Lodge, having made five appearances for ‘Ricay in 2019, as the 25-year-old Kosovo youth international brings valuable depth to the midfield. McCann, a long-time admirer, noted that the club had attempted to sign Krasniqi over the summer before he opted for Maidstone United. “He’s a player that will add something different to our midfield,” McCann stated, before further emphasising the need for Krasniqi’s involvement in the attacking areas, with just four goals scored by the Blues’ midfield so far this term.

However, despite McCann’s optimism about the new arrivals, his side continues to grapple with availability issues. Creative midfielder Jack Paxman was withdrawn at half-time during Tuesday’s draw with Chatham Town due to a foot problem. Although McCann noted that Paxman has no swelling or bruising, the Billericay boss outlined that Paxman would be “a loss to the team short term and hopefully only short term” as the club awaits scan results.

Billericay’s injury troubles in midfield are further compounded by the absence of Frankie Merrifield, who is nursing a medial ligament issue with an uncertain return date. The 30-year-old missed Tuesday’s clash with Chatham, though McCann remains optimistic for a swift recovery, stating, “the joint isn’t opening up which is a big plus,” and adding he hopes Merrifield will only miss “a couple of weeks,” though no fixed return date is confirmed at this time.

Other injury concerns include club captain Matt Johnson, who missed recent clashes with Concord and Whitehawk and was limited to just 55 minutes on Tuesday night. The Blues’ boss reports that his captain is dealing with calf tightness, and while Johnson is in contention to face Carshalton tomorrow, McCann suggests it would be “foolish of us to risk him with the schedule ahead of us.”

Meanwhile, Aron Pollock’s spell at the club continues to be hampered by setbacks. The defender, who was plagued by injuries last season, has only made three appearances this term. McCann stated that Pollock will remain sidelined with an ongoing calf issue. “Aron’s been really unfortunate with injuries,” said McCann, adding that further tests are underway to identify the underlying causes of the defender’s persistent muscle issues. McCann revealed that Pollock had recovered from an initial calf problem but is now “back to square one,” meaning Blues fans will have to wait a few weeks before seeing him back on the pitch.

On a more positive note, the ‘Ricay faithful can look forward to the return of striker Ade Azeez, who is nearly ready to return after an ACL tear last December. McCann told club media that Azeez has been training for three weeks and fans can expect him to feature in “one or maybe both” of the cup games later in November. McCann went on to say how rewarding it will be to see Azeez back after months of recovery, adding that the striker “will be like a new signing” when he makes his return.

With reinforcements in Mukuna and Krasniqi and the imminent return of Azeez, McCann has reason to remain optimistic about Billericay’s prospects despite the challenges posed by key injuries. The Blues’ boss is determined to succeed as they navigate a demanding fixture list, with a focus on converting recent draws into wins, with the support and resilience of his squad pivotal in pushing forward through this challenging period of the season.