DAVID CUFFLEY City defender Jason Shackell remains a serious doubt for FA Cup duty at Blackpool on Saturday. Manager Peter Grant said today that the 23-year-old centre-back still hadn't taken part in training since the 3-1 home defeat by Plymouth 12 days ago.

DAVID CUFFLEY

City defender Jason Shackell remains a serious doubt for FA Cup duty at Blackpool on Saturday.

Manager Peter Grant said today that the 23-year-old centre-back still hadn't taken part in training since the 3-1 home defeat by Plymouth 12 days ago.

And it appears Shackell, who has an injury to his left ankle, may have to be written out of Grant's plans for the sell-out fourth round tie at Bloomfield Road.

Grant said: “Jason Shackell's obviously struggling. Yet again he's not taken part in training but we'll give him every chance right up to the last moment.

“I'm always concerned when somebody has missed even a week's training. I try not to play guys if they're struggling with injury but Jason wanted to play. It was an injury that flared up prior to the last game.

“I am taking a little bit of care with him because there are not many left-sided centre-backs about and he's not one I'm going to take a chance on.

“It's a catch 22 situation but in my mind I think I know what I'm going to do there anyway.”

Grant was giving nothing away about his likely starting line-up against the Seasiders, but Shackell's injury would almost certainly mean a return to the back four for Dion Dublin, who scored twice playing as a striker in the previous round at Tamworth.

With Rossi Jarvis and Matthew Halliday on their way to Torquay today to start a month's loan, there were also reports linking strikers Peter Thorne and Ryan Jarvis with a possible loan move to Oldham.

Grant confirmed: “Oldham have asked about Thorney. I think that's maybe because he's a Manchester boy.

“I've let the player know and it's up to him if he wants to speak to them.

“But at this moment in time nothing's happening on that.”

Grant added: “I don't know about the Ryan situation.”