That was the view of Tony Vance as his Green Lions prepare to host Bexhill United at Victoria Park.
The club’s record appearance holder has not played competitively since last season’s Muratti Vase final due to a knee injury, but he has been back in full-contact training for three weeks and with GFC missing several players this weekend – half-a-dozen being involved with the Island U21s alone – Loaring’s return is a timely one.
‘Matty is a very fit guy and he looks after himself, so prior to training with us he was running and cycling to keep aerobically fit,’ said GFC manager Vance.
‘There is a good chance he will be involved against Bexhill and that is because, one, he is a good player; two, it is a position we really need that type of player in, and, three, the fact that we have quite a few missing.’
Vance admitted that a couple of the Ambassadeur Bowl players might sit on the bench for GFC today to boost numbers, but in all likelihood he will try to resist using the likes of Fin Du Port, Jacques Cauvin, Gil Hunter, Fin Patterson, George Goubert and Tyrese Kelly.
He will definitely be without the injured Simon Arnold while Niall Hainsworth is away and Charlton Gauvain starts a two-match suspension, having received his 10th yellow card of the campaign last weekend.
Bexhill are ninth in the table and were beaten 4-0 by the Green Lions when the two sides met last month.
‘In the first 20-30 minutes of that game we were brilliant, we then had a little wobble, but came on strong at the end,’ Vance said.
‘Ultimately those are the games – midweek away on a difficult pitch – in which you can throw things away, but it turned out to be a solid win.
‘At home it is going to be different, but it is not ideal circumstances for us not having the U21s available, so we have got to treat the game with respect and make sure we are on it.
‘Bexhill will be coming here trying to make things difficult and hit us on the counter, which they did quite well last time. They’ve certainly got a threat.’
GFC against Bexhill United kicks off at 2pm today at Victoria Park.
