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See the Nathan Gillies interview in full
STEELERS' boss Dave Matsos says a new player is waiting in the wings...but he will not be recruited if current winger Nathan Gillies makes a speedy recovery from injury.
Within hours of Gillies hyper-extending his elbow at Belfast Giants last Saturday, Matsos had lined up a replacement.
Matsos said: "Gills will have an MRI scan this week, and see what the problem is.
"If it turns out he will be out for a lengthy period of time we have already got our nose into the agents and have found a quality replacement."
Matsos said the possibility of having a new player would "put everybody on edge."
If Gillies was de-registered, and the unnamed new player did well in his absence, then Matsos would have the option of keeping the fresh talent - someone well known to British hockey - and releasing someone else.
Hear the Dave Matsos interview in full, click hereSpeaking on video at thestar.co.uk, Gillies said: "It is not broken that is good news, hopefully it's a minor stretch. We have some big games coming up so I need to get back in the line up."
Gillies said to have broken his scoring duck at Belfast - and then get injured - was typical of his luck.
"Last season I got two goals and an assist and I ended up getting an ankle strain in the game. But you have got to take the good with the bad."
Gillies said he thought the team was ending its inconsistent period - and that as a team, players must stay loyal to each other.
"You can't down on the guy next to you. Maybe you should be pointing the thumb rather than the finger."
The winger also said he liked the fact Steelers were not favourites to win the title - saying underdogs could avoid some of the pressure.
He also said he expected a hard-fought game against Cardiff Devils on Saturday.
The Arena crowd is bound to give a hostile reception to Brad Voth, who has caused several injuries to Steeler players over the years.
But Matsos said: "The fans will respond the way that they will. We certainly will not going to get caught up in it."
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