Injuries hamper Cambridge United building partnerships

U's rue injury list

Shaun Derry has rued the impact injuries are having on Cambridge United’s ability to form partnerships so far this season.

Adam McGurk and Ben Williamson were a blossoming combination up front in the win over Yeovil on Tuesday night, and caught the eye as Yeovil struggled to deal with their movement and positional play.

The only thing missing from the duo was a goal, but the performance from Williamson in particular hinted at a return to last season’s form.

“We’re hopeful that partnerships can be created and expanded further than just them two,” said Derry.

“I thought they really linked well and they connected really well on Tuesday night.

“I know Ben didn’t and hasn’t got his goal yet, but I thought that was his best performance of the season.

“I just think that Ben reverted back to type. His type is stretching the play, going in behind opposition’s defences and I feel that at certain times this season he has been attracted to the ball and his game has been shorter.

“We know that he has got this speed and endurance that allows him to go in behind consistently in the game, and I felt he did that on Tuesday night and it brought us as a football club, as a group of guys, a lot of success.”

But it is unlikely that the duo will have the chance to develop their connection as McGurk will miss tomorrow’s match against Accrington Stanley at the Cambs Glass Stadium after sustaining a knee to the back.

And injuries have been a recurring theme when partnerships have started to take shape.

“I think that has been the story of our season,” said Derry. “I think if you were to ask me one huge frustration, it’s been trying to formulate these players, trying to connect with each other, because when one kind of group is together, we go and lose one [player] and it’s an injury.

“And then you have to try to look for a different partnership.

“We’ve made changes this year but a lot of them have been forced, and they’ve been injury-forced changes which as a manager drives you mad.”