Macclesfield manager John Askey is facing his first injury crisis of the season as the Silkmen head south for Dover.

Macc have already been without Danny Whitaker for five games due to a back problem, and with fellow centre midfielders Paul Lewis and Paul Turnbull struggling in the aftermath of Macc Town's draw with Halifax on Tuesday, Askey will be crossing his fingers for some good news later this week.

Club captain Turnbull was taken off at half-time against the Shaymen, and Lewis sat out the last 10 minutes. Should they fail to make what could yet be a minibus to the Crabble for Saturday Askey will turn to new recruit Will Haining, who got 50 minutes under his belt against Halifax, and David Gonzalez, who's still finding his feet in the English game.

“Paul Turnbull has a calf problem, hopefully he's not pulled it completely but when it's muscular then you worry that it could be two or three weeks, and Paul Lewis has been carrying an injury for the last two or three weeks so he's done well to carry on with his ankle,” Askey revealed after Arthur Gnahoua's goal had cancelled out the opening goal by Scott Boden.

Arthur Gnahoua struck the Silkmen's equaliser against Halifax
 

“Will came off basically because he hasn't played games, so he needs to get fitter, it was important that we didn't push him too much, because the last thing we wanted to do was have him pull something. Danny is struggling still, so we'll see this week who's available and who's not.

“It's something we have to overcome but whoever goes out there for us should believe that they're good enough, it might affect us, it might not but it gives other people an opportunity to show what they do.”

While rightly satisfied that his side took a point from a physical Halifax side who continue to vie with Barnet for the top spot, Askey was less enthused about the reaction by former Silkman Boden, who was merely in the right place to have Rhys Taylor's parry rebound off him and into the goal from a yard out.

“Before last year, Scott had hardly played a back-to-back game and it brought him on last season – I would have hoped he appreciates that when he goes off running after he scores a goal against us, it was Macc that got him back playing week in, week out," Askey added.

“And he did do great for us, but I was a little bit disappointed with how he went away celebrating his goal. He'd had such a good time here and we had such a good spirit last season, so I think it shows a lack of respect. He should have a look at himself.”