Paul Rachubka to get his chance at Tranmere

Nov 30 2011 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Daily Post

TRANMERE goalkeeper Owain Fon Williams faces two months on the sidelines following surgery to his broken hand – and that should provide Šloan signing Paul Rachubka with an opportunity to re-establish his first team credentials on a temporary assignment at Prenton Park.

Welshman Fon Williams, an ever present in the Rovers side until last week, underwent an operation this week in which the bones of the broken hand were wired.

Manager Les Parry explained: "You can try to treat an injury like this conservatively but because of the movement, it might not heal properly. When it is wired you can almost guarantee that the bones will unite properly."

He added: "Fonners will be in a cast for four weeks, then out of the cast for two weeks before he can do anything. Then he can start work. We're probably looking at six weeks to training and two weeks after that before he can play."

Rachubka's arrival on a month's loan from Leeds United Šmay have been rushed through in an emergency just before Thursday's deadline for loan signings, Šbut the American goalkeeper was a long-term target for Tranmere, Parry has revealed.

Rachubka's background of experience – more than 250 games in all four English divisions – made him an attractive proposition when Rovers were looking to sign a senior goalkeeper on a permanent basis during the summer.

The 30-year-old from California, released at the end of four-year spell with Blackpool, chose a move to Leeds rather than Tranmere but now he may be in line to spend longer than a month on the Wirral.

Parry explained: "After Fonners sustained the injury we did not start looking for a goalkeeper until 2pm on Thursday – so we needed to do something at very short notice. It really was a dash.

"We have a chart on the wall listing potential loan targets in every position and Paul's name was amongst the goalkeepers.

"We tried to bring him in at the beginning of the season. He was on our list for a permanent signing. He was lucky enough to get a good move to Leeds, so he came off our list."

Rachubka was made available by Leeds a few weeks ago after making just six senior appearances this season and falling behind Andy Lonegran in the goalkeeping pecking order at Elland Road.

After a couple of first-team appearances went badly for the American, Leeds manager Simon Grayson took him out of the firing line at the beginning of November and signed Alex McCarthy on loan from Reading.

Rachubka's difficulties at Leeds should Šbe put in the context of a decade-long career that began with Manchester United. He made only a couple of first-team appearances under Sir Alex Ferguson but secured a £200,000 move to Charlton Athletic in 2002.

Rachubka's two years at The Valley included several loan spells at other clubs, including a 16 game assignment with Huddersfield.

The Terriers were so impressed, they signed him on a permanent basis in 2004 and 67 first-team appearances followed.

Rachubka moved on to Blackpool in 2007 and made 116 senior appearances for the Seasiders prior to his release at the end of last season.

Rachubka made his Tranmere debut in the 3-0 defeat at Exeter City last Saturday and is due to pull on the gloves again in the League One encounter with MK Dons at Prenton Park on Saturday, December 10.

He faces a busy December and Christmas holiday period with Rovers. The initial month-long loan runs to the first week of January.