Engine room (From Swindon Advertiser)

Engine room

10:08am Tuesday 18th July 2006

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DENNIS Wise admits he is anxious to add to his midfield options and hopes a melting mobile will pay dividends in sizzling Ibiza.

The manager appears content with his goalkeeper, his back four and his numerous strikers.

And although an extra central defender is now required following Sean O'Hanlon's surprise move to MK Dons, the engine room' seems to be the one area where Wise has yet to sleep comfortably.

Andy Monkhouse has featured prominently on the left, Ricky Shakes on the right but the biggest question marks hover over the central slots, an area where the manager could play himself of course.

He said: "The midfield is important. I am looking for someone in the midfield but also at the back.

"Obviously the phone is with me and you can see it's getting plenty of use.

"I am comfortable with the strikers' situation at the moment though.

"Obviously if you go through the season and none of them are scoring then you have to bring someone in. But at the moment they're looking strong and scoring goals."

After arriving at their Ibiza base in the early hours of yesterday morning, the players enjoyed a relaxing morning beside the pool, a spot of lunch and a game of cards.

However, if the squad were expecting their first day to be a completely relaxing one, they received a shock to the system around tea time.

As he headed to the San Antonio stadium for the first training session, Wise said: "They don't realise what's coming to them. They'll have a big blow. I know we've a game Tuesday night but it's all about getting fit. They'll be tired.

"They will be 200 metre runs, 20 of them to be precise. And when they think they're finished, they'll run again.

"We're not here on some kind of jolly up or social function."

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