Colchester United backup goalkeeper Tom Smith has been ruled out after rupturing his quad, leaving the club with only Matt Macey between the sticks until the end of the season.
To make things worse for the U’s, under-21 goalkeeper Harrison Chamberlain is also currently injured.
This has meant that Colchester have had to name a squad without a goalkeeper on the bench for their last two games against Salford City and Chesterfield, leading to questions over what may happen should Macey pick up an injury in game.
As per EFL regulations, clubs can use an emergency loan to bring in a goalkeeper should they face an injury crisis in that position.
This has been notably exercised by Sheffield Wednesday, who have fielded seven goalkeepers due to problems on and off the pitch.
EFL rules only allow an emergency goalkeeper loan if a club has no fit senior goalkeeper available.
Colchester are therefore unable to sign one on loan as their primary shot-stopper Macey is available, despite not having a backup should the former Arsenal player suffer an injury mid-match.
This has caused some frustration at the club, with manager Danny Cowley stating that: “It’s beyond me why they can’t support and help the lower league clubs.”
He also revealed that Colchester would have to rely on fifteen-year-old Oscar Roberts should Macey become unavailable.
Cowley continued “What do they expect us to do? You go to Premier League clubs and in their stable of goalkeepers they have as many as ten.“
“We can’t afford to do that and they wonder why clubs keep getting into financial difficulty.”
For now, Colchester United will have to rely entirely on Matt Macey remaining fit for the rest of the season.
Any injury or suspension would leave the U’s in a difficult position in what is already a difficult run-in, with youth goalkeeper Roberts potentially forced into action.
An injury to Macey would be especially difficult for Colchester, as the former FA cup winner has been important between the posts this season with a save percentage of 66.3%.
The situation highlights the limitations of the current EFL emergency loan rules, which leave clubs with little flexibility when only one senior goalkeeper remains available.
