New signing Thomas has to keep it clean
By Matt Pitman

Friday 7th January 2005

STEVE Johnson is hoping new signing Bradley Thomas keeps his nose clean when he makes his Weymouth debut tomorrow.

The Peterborough United defender will line up alongside Matt Bound in defence at strugglers Carshalton Athletic in Conference South after joining the Terras on a month loan deal.

The 20-year-old ex-England under 19 international is walking a suspension tight rope, having picked up four bookings and two red cards already this season.

But despite that, Johnson has no worries bringing the former Kettering and Aldershot player to the Wessex Stadium.

He told Echosport: "Bradley is a big, quick centre half and I'm really grateful to Barry Fry up at Peterborough for letting him come to us.

"For someone only 20, Brad has got a lot of experience under his belt and I'm sure he will be an asset.

"Although he hasn't broken through at Peterborough, he has represented England at under-19 level and is a current Jamaican under-23 international.

"He played a big part in Jamaica's Olympic qualifiers last year which shows the pedigree of the lad.

"The only slight problem I can see is that he's walking a bit of a tight rope in terms of suspension.

"Barry told me he's been booked four times while out on loan this season and obviously one more would mean a ban.

That would be a shame but it's a slight gamble I'm willing to take and I'm not overly concerned about.

"Losing Roy O'Brien back to Yeovil was a blow because we're short on numbers at the back but getting Brad in so fast has made preparations for tomorrow easier."

Johnson said his team travel to take on the Robins in good heart following Monday's home victory over Hayes.

But he is warning his players to be on their guard after tomorrow's opponents this week named former player Jimmy Bolton as their new manager.

He replaced veteran Billy Smith who had been forced to make major budget cuts at the third from bottom outfit.

Johnson said: "Teams normally do well when they first appoint a new manager and I'm sure Carshalton's players will want to impress Jimmy.

"But it's certainly a winnable game for us and one we have to be looking to get three points from.

"A victory will move us closer to the play-off zone and be a big boost ahead of our two-week break without a league game."

Winger Adam Wilde is currently undergoing tests to discover the full extent of his groin injury, while defender Dave Waterman is still out crocked.

Meanwhile Weymouth look like missing out on signing Gavin Holligan after agreeing a fee with Havant and Waterooville striker.

Johnson said he was unable to meet the former Wycombe Wanderers and Crawley Town striker's personal terms.

• SHAUN Wilkinson and Chukki Eribenne's loan spells with Havant and Waterlooville and Aldershot Town end this weekend.

The pair are expected to return to the Wessex Stadium once their one month deals expire.

Johnson said: "I've made no secret of the fact that neither player are in my plans.

"As we stand, I'm waiting to hear from Havant whether they want to extend Shaun's loan by another month or make the deal permanent.

"I've told them if they want to do either, that's fine.

"In regards to Chukki, it looks Aldershot won't be requesting to keep him and he will return to us next week unless another club come in for him.