Jose Baxter and Andy Robinson give Tranmere creative options

Nov 16 2011 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Daily Post

MANAGER Les Parry is pondering the enticing prospect of playing two of the most creative players in his Tranmere squad, Andy Robinson and José Baxter, in the same side for the first time this weekend.

Baxter is available for selection in the League One encounter against Sheffield Wednesday at Prenton Park after completing a three-match suspension.

The ban halted an impressive run of performances by the talented 19-year-old, who is in the second month of a loan spell from Everton.

Baxter was recruited to fill the key role just behind the striker, initially filled this season by Robinson, before the 31-year-old was forced out of action by a hamstring injury at the end of August.

RobinsonŠ returned from his two-month spell on the sidelines just as Baxter was hit by his ban following a straight red card in a defeated Scunthorpe at the end of October.

Now with both players fit and available for the visit of the second place Owls on Saturday, Parry is considering how both players might be slotted into the attack.

Robinson’s greater experience and versatility opens up alternatives. Parry said: “It is possible to play both of them together because Andy has played in a standard midfield role for us before – and did well.

“He can also play out wide, so the flexibility gives us something to look at.”

The creative options for Parry are further enhanced by Martin Devaney’s return to action. The winger ended a two-month layoff for a hamstring problem with a half-hour substitute appearance in the 1-0 defeat at Cheltenham in the FA Cup last Saturday. He sharpened up with another run for the reserves yesterday.

However, Parry points out that Tranmere’s recurring problem this season has been finishing opportunities off, rather than creating them.

“When we are getting quality balls into the box we’ve got to get on the end of them,” Parry said. “We are not hitting the target enough and forcing the goalkeeper to make saves. It is starting to be a worry.”

Parry added: “Things are not happening for a few of our strikers and they are trying to take extra care. We did not make the goalkeeper work hard enough last Saturday because we did not hit the target. We need to start doing that.”

Meanwhile Enoch Showunmi has said a big thank you to the Tranmere supporters whose votes helped him to win a major regional award this week.

The Rovers striker was named League One footballer of the year at the Northwest Football Awards, following in the footsteps of teammate Ian Goodison, who held the honour three times in recent years.

Showunmi said: “It means a lot to be recognised for your performances by supporters and I would like to thank everyone who voted for me. It is nice to be rewarded for your work on the pitch.

“But football is a team game and I would not have won the award without the rest of the squad at Tranmere, or the coaching staff.”

London-born Showunmi, 29, joined Tranmere in the summer of 2010 Šand was the club’s leading scorer with 13 league and cup goals last season. His hard-working contribution up front helped Les Parry’s team finish nine points clear of the relegation places on one of the lowest budgets in the division.

Dale Jennings, now with Bayern Munich, came second in the north-west goal of the season category behind Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney, for his effort against Plymouth Argyle.

The regional manager of the year award, for Parry was nominated, was won by Richie Barker of Bury.

TRANMERE'S League One fixture against Bury will go ahead as scheduled at Prenton Park on Friday, December 30.

The two clubs were talking about switching the fixture to fill a free weekend at the start of next month after both were knocked out of the FA Cup at the first round stage. But the Football League were not prepared to sanction the change.