IAIN Harvey has hailed the strength in depth of the Chippenham Town squad and reckons the Bluebirds are coping admirably in the midst of a mini injury crisis.

Harvey featured as Adie Mings’ side played out a goalless draw at Hitchin Town last weekend and the experienced midfielder paid tribute to the fit Bluebirds players that have steadied the ship in recent weeks.

“We said at the start of the year, when everyone’s there and everyone’s fit, I think Mingo (Mings) has got a really good squad to pick from,” said Harvey.

“I think James Guthrie’s been our best player up to now, Griff (Alan Griffin) and Poweller (Lewis Powell) are doing really well and the boys at the back have been solid.

“We know that Pudds (Will Puddy) is dealing with everything that gets past too anyway.

“It’s why you have a big squad and Mingo’s done wonders to get the people at the club that he has done when they could be elsewhere, getting a lot more money.

“Not many other clubs get the support we get and it’s nice to play in front of a few hundred people on a Saturday.”

Harvey limped off with a hamstring injury in Chippenham’s second game of the season and only returned from a nine-week lay-off in last month’s FA Trophy trip to Poole Town.

He added: “Pre-season was hard with work and training and then to tear my hamstring in the second game of the season; I was gutted.

“I probably came back a little bit too early and it then ended up dragging on for a while but hopefully that’s all behind me now and I can get on with some games.”