Morecambe rocked by injury crisis

McIlroy's Morecambe played Grimsby four times last season

Morecambe manager Sammy McIlroy has admitted he has a huge shortage of players available for Saturday's FA Cup first-round tie against Grimsby.

The Shrimps could be without nine first-team players after Craig Stanley and Ryan McGivern were forced off in Tuesday's 1-0 defeat at Tranmere.

"We're down to the bare bones," the 54-year-old former Manchester United midfielder told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"We're going to have to be careful what we do this week in training."

Already ruled out for the visit of the Mariners are Rene Howe, Wayne Curtis, Matty Blinkhorn, Michael Twiss, Garry Hunter, Michael Carr and Michael Howard.

We'll have to get the boys in and see what the numbers are

Morecambe manager Sammy McIlroy

On-loan Manchester City defender McGivern was forced off at Prenton Park in Tuesday's Johnstone's Paint Trophy defeat with a virus, while former Hereford midfielder Stanley was substituted in the first half with a groin strain.

McIlroy has also played down any hope of making a loan signing ahead of the weekend because clubs will not want their players cup-tied.

"It's virtually impossible unless you get kids in which we really don't want to do. So we'll have to get the boys in and see what the numbers are," he said.