Pitchero Non League

Craig Hinton

....Hinton ahead of Saturday’s visit of npower Championship neighbours Coventry City.

The 33-year-old ended last season as assistant-manager with the Pirates before leaving when caretaker boss Stuart Campbell was not given the job full-time.

He was an unused triallist in Tuesday night’s 2-1 win against Mansfield Town after a late call to manager Kevin Wilkin.

Now Wilkin says he hopes to talk to Hinton in more detail before the Sky Blues arrive at the Triton Showers Community Arena.

He said: “Craig coming on board was a last minute thing really. He lives in Northampton and gave me a call.

“He wants to play non-League football while looking at opportunities outside the game in a work sense. It’s something we are exploring.

“I’ll sit down and talk to Craig. We need to look at if he will strengthen the squad and if we can afford to bring him in.”

Hinton began his career at Birmingham City before moving onto Kidderminster Harriers for six years. He went on to play for Rovers and most recently Northampton Town.

He then returned to Bristol during last season as number two.

He was unable to play for them having already turned out for Northampton and Luton Town during a loan spell.

Hinton can play at centre back and right-back. With right-back Graham Ward out for a month, Hinton would seem an ideal signing on paper.

However, Wilkin says he may not be needed after centre half Guy Hadland impressed there against Mansfield.

“Guy did well. He scored a good goal and got behind their defence a few times.

“He showed he is a viable alternative in that position,” he said.

Wilkin has said he will make plenty of changes to the side which started against Mansfield with the likes of Lee Moore, Sam Belcher and Adam Walker all likely to start.

“We’ll shuffle the team around. I’m not sure to what extent.

“A good few of those who had less of an opportunity on Tuesday will see more action this time.

“We’ll certainly find out how fit the players are because they’ll be plenty of running.

“We won’t see as much of the ball because teams like Coventry will look after it well.

“It’s a chance to learn how organised we are and how we can defend as a group,” Wilkin said.

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