SAMMY McIlroy wants the fans to act as an extra man when his patched-up Shrimps enter Christie Park battle with Cambridge United on Saturday.

The Morecambe manager will have to field players not 100 per cent fit for the Conference clash as his sick list grows longer and longer.

Top of that tale of woe is Michael Twiss, who will miss the rest of the season with medial ligament damage, while defenders Adam Yates and Chris Blackburn are also out with hamstring and knee problems respectively.

"I have never known anything like this in all my time in football," laments McIlroy. "I never hide behind a long injury list - but I have seven first team players either out or struggling.

"We need everyone to work together and fight through this, from the players who come in to the fans on the terrace, who can make so much of a difference.

"Everyone needs to stand up and be counted.

"Our fans at Gravesend on Saturday clapped the lads at the end; they could see the effort that had been put in - and they could see how many problems we had with injuries.

"It was a tough week with two long and tough away trips and two defeats was disappointing - but some people forget that we are still there or there abouts in the league and have two games in hand.

"We are still in a very good position - but the injury problems are difficult but we have to knuckle down and get on with things."