GUISELEY are hoping that new signing Sean St Ledger will be ready to make his debut at Dover on Saturday.

The Republic of Ireland international dislocated a shoulder during a practice match last weekend.

“It popped back in and he reckons he will be ok,” said manager Paul Cox.

Guiseley can do without further setbacks in a season dogged with injury problems.

Cox is looking to the vastly-experienced St Ledger to shore up a defence that his leaked goals.

“We just have to cut out the silly errors that have been dogging our performances,” insisted Cox.

“We have gone through a number of instances in detail with the players to try and prevent us from conceding soft goals.

“It is all about game management and being strong mentally.

“Many of the goals have come late in games and it has become something of a mental issue.

“We have to stay strong and positive rather than get edgy. That is when the errors start to crop up.”

It isn’t just the defence that Cox is looking to for improvement as Guiseley head towards a busy February which sees them play four of their six fixtures at home.

They have to start winning games and bagging points if they are to have a chance of beating the drop.

Cox wants to see his side make more of the chances they are creating.

“We have to be ruthless and not be afraid when opportunities come along.

“James Roberts, Dayle Southwell and Rowan Liburd are all capable strikers, but we need them to score more goals.

“If we are to close the gap on the teams above us we have to be positive, we have to be strong and we must make the most of the opportunities that come our way. That is essential for us.

“I want to see us get back to the sorts of performances we produced before the FA Cup.

“We were tight at the back and we achieved decent results against teams in the top half.”

Cox has been pleased this week to see influential midfielder Will Hatfield taking another positive step towards a first-team return after groin surgery.

Hatfield has started kicking balls again in training and Cox feels it won’t be long before he is back in the reckoning.

“We have really missed him,” said Cox. “He has a great love for this club and I am sure he has Guiseley written right through the middle of him.”

It will be at least another month before versatile Jake Lawlor returns. He has a knee injury. There had been fears he would be out for the rest of the season.