Injuries the main concern for Hill

Injury worry: David Perkins in action against Southport, his only pre-season game thus far

Droylsden vs Rochdale - Match preview

Rochdale manager Keith Hill takes his squad to Droylsden this evening, Tuesday 31 July, for his sides' penultimate pre-season friendly. Dale have won three out of four friendlies thus far, including impressive victories over League One sides Huddersfield and Oldham last week, but Hill is worried about the injuries that his squad has picked up in the process.

The Dale strikers, barring Glenn Murray who has been out through injury, have all found the net in pre-season. Kallum Higginbotham hit the winner at Rossendale, whilst Chris Dagnall and Adam Le Fondre have formed a productive partnership, scoring four goals between them in two games. Despite this form, however, Murray, Dale's joint top-scorer of the last campaign, will certainly be missed if he is still injured for this season's opener at Peterborough on Saturday 11 August.

Hill praised his strikers after the Huddersfield game but there is no doubt that injuries are playing on his mind. He said: "Adam Le Fondre is sniffing every opportunity, he's a livewire ; he's not ground-speed quick but he's mentally very, very quick and very sharp and he's always sneaking opportunities and that is why he causes, along with Chris Dagnall and Glenn Murray, defenders so much trouble.

"We are really concerned with the amount of injuries were are picking up. Crooks has got a bit of a thigh strain and it's important that we get these players fit as soon as we possibly can. That is the real concern, the injuries we are picking up."

Keith Hill expects all injured players to have recovered in time to play a part in the Peterborough game but he will be concerned that their pre-season preparation has been far from ideal. David Perkins is a certain starter for the game in central midfield, with Jon Doolan serving a suspension, but he has only played in one pre-season game, at Southport. A possible replacement in central midfield would be Lee Crooks but he picked up a knock against Huddersfield and was forced off with just twenty minutes played.

Nathan Stanton and Murray were integral parts of the Dale team last season; Murray scores goals and will offer something different up front for Dale compared to the similar styles of Dagnall and Le Fondre, whilst Stanton was the rock of the Dale defence last season and his performances saw him collect the supporters player of the season award last term. Due to their respective injuries, both are yet to play a part in any of the pre-season games.

It is hard to tell what sort of team Hill will choose to take to the field at Droylsden. It is almost certain that none of Crooks, Perkins, Murray or Stanton will play and Hill may see it as a chance to give some of his fringe players a run-out as they will undoubtedly have a part to play in the coming season. Higginbotham may start in order to give Dagnall or Le Fondre a break, whilst Gary Brown, Joe Thompson and Callum Warburton all made first team starts last season and are yet to do so in pre-season.

There is also Jerome Watt to consider. The trialist has impressed on both wings in spells during pre-season and Hill may give him the full ninety minutes against Droylsden, another impressive performance could see a contract being offered in his direction before the season's start.

On the other hand Hill may field a strong line-up to build on the Oldham and Huddersfield performances. Against Huddersfield the new-look back four put in its finest display and Hill may feel that the more games they get under their belts the better, whilst it will do Dagnall and Le Fondre no harm if they continue hitting the back of the net. However, Hill has injuries on his mind and he can not afford any further knocks to first team players with the season just a week and a half away, that, more than anything else, could decide tonight's team selection.