Morecambe manager calls on the club to bring in some new faces.

Adam Lakeland said it is ‘essential’ that Morecambe can bring in new additions to his squad ahead of this weekend’s FA Cup clash at AFC Rushden and Diamonds, writes DEREK QUINN.

The Shrimps’ boss saw Liam Hogan forced off the field at half-time in last weekend’s National League North defeat at Worksop Town.

With Will Smith’s long-term injury making him unavailable, Lakeland currently has only one fit recognised central defender in his squad ahead of a tricky cup tie.

While Jake Cain is also dealing with a knee problem, Lakeland said: “Liam is struggling with his back and we will have to see how he is this week.

“Jake looks like he will be out for two to three weeks too, so it is essential that we get in some cover and I have been saying that for a few weeks.

“We can’t just carry the squad with two centre-backs, as good as Liam and Lewis Baines have been, because they can soon pick up a knock that would leave us down to one and we need to get a really good centre-back in this week.

“There are a few people on the radar and a few names have been discussed, but we need to get our skates on and get someone in at the start of the week.

“It was great to see Taelor O’Kane get in some minutes on Saturday for us, and for him too - and we need him.

“We are light on bodies and seem to be in one of those spaces at the minute where we get one back and lose another, hence the need to get decent bodies in this week.

“We need to have a good few days before the cup tie and it is important that we see the Worksop defeat as a bump in the road and not let it affect us this weekend.”

Saturday’s opponents, who play in the Northern Premier League Midlands Division, go into the game on the back of a 5-3 win at Long Eaton United last weekend.

That left them 10th in the table, having won four and drawn five of their opening nine league games this season.