The Mariners have a number of players out of action

Grimsby Town are considering dipping into the free-agent market to address the issues caused by their recent injury pile-up.

David Artell was forced into tactical alterations for Tuesday night’s game at Rochdale due to the number of injuries, particularly in the backline. Defenders Cameron McJannet, Jayden Sweeney, Reece Staunton, Doug Tharme and Edon Pruti are all out, with Sam Lavelle on loan and not able to be recalled.

The former two have short-term issues, but it seems they will miss more games, judging by the Mariners’ boss stance on a potential free-agent signing to plug a gap. Sweeney and Staunton’s absences currently leave Town without a first-team left-back, which forced the change to a back three in midweek.

It may seem like a simple solution to the issue to bring in someone from the free market. However, as Artell explains, anyone still without a club at this point in the season is likely in that position for a reason, so due diligence is required, as with any potential new arrival.

Artell said: “We’ve got to be mindful of the fact that they are free agents at this time and haven’t been snapped up just after the window. We’re looking at who’s available, but there is a difference between being available and being fit to play.

“It is difficult for players who are free agents at this stage to come in and straight away be fit to play, and we need players who are fit to play. I wouldn’t rule out [a signing before the next game], but at the same time, we’re not close.

“We’ve had a 48-hour turnaround, so we have worked extremely hard to produce a list, make some enquiries, watch players, and do all the physical and background checks to have dossiers prepared.

“We’ll go from there, and if we can’t find someone suitable, then we won’t sign anyone, but if we can find someone who we think can come in and produce to a similar level to what we saw here [at Rochdale], then we’ll go and get them.

“I’m really grateful to the chairman because he understands the situation we’re in is an extreme one, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we can source a player magically who can come in and play 90 minutes to the level the lads that are here can do.”

The backline is the main issue currently, but further forward, Town still have Mark Shelton, Josh Andrews and Cam Gardner to come back as well, all three of whom will be important to the first team when available.

Pruti and Tharme were just getting going this term last weekend when both went down with serious issues in their first league starts of the campaign, and Artell will not be able to call upon either of them for a while.

The Mariners boss reported: “We’ll be looking to see him [Pruti] in pre-season, that's the plan, that’s his target. There is a lot of time between now and pre-season, so we just hope that Mother Nature is kind to him and there are no further complications that set him back.

“Doug’s got a 4C, which is a full tear [hamstring] with tendons involved, which will certainly put him out for a while. I imagine he will be [out until after the new year], but I don’t know for certain.

“We are where we are. Is it ridiculous? Yes, but I’m not one to moan about injuries, so all I can say to the lads is ‘Come on, let’s go, there’s no point in us moaning’.”