GUISELEY boss Mark Bower has been left to rue the cruel game this week as the misfortunes that football can bring dealt the Lions a huge blow.

In the club’s final friendly, Danny Hall suffered a broken fibula around 15 minutes after his central defensive starting partner Danny Lowe had been substituted with a groin injury.

There was much consternation and worried looks as Bower, his assistant Danny Boshell and physio-coach Martin Stringfellow prowled around the Throstle Nest pitch after the goalless draw against Farsley.

A reinforcement was drafted in on Wednesday with the arrival of Alex McQuade, a 21-year-old who began his career at Bolton Wanderers.

The Manchester-born defender was playing in the Conference Premier on loan at Hyde last season, so is ready to slot in.

Bower said: “Danny (Hall) is obviously disappointed by what happened and he had looked really fit in pre-season. Football can be a cruel game – a week before the season he is in plaster.

“The doctors and medics have told him it was a clean break, so it should heal well and we all hope it heals quickly for him as its affecting his work as well. We will be without him for three months.

“The other Danny (Lowe) will be out for a few weeks but with the hectic schedule at the start of the season that could mean he misses a lot of games. We reckon about three or four weeks but he will have to start all over again then.

“It seems we have been jinxed at centre half but we have quality and versatility in the squad so the lads who pull the shirt on will be good enough to play there and will not let the club down.”