Dimaio joins Rainworth MW on one month loan

Matlock Town midfielder Connor Dimaio is being loaned out for a month to United Counties League First Division Rainworth Miners Welfare as his rehabilitation continues following nine months out with a serious ACL injury.

Dimaio’s 2022/23 season ended just a month after joining the Gladiators from Curzon Ashton when he went down in agony during the home 1-1 draw with Ashton United on March 4.

Since then he has undergone surgery and has endured several months training on his own in a bid to recover his fitness making his comeback playing the final thirty five minutes of the defeat at Bamber Bridge on December 16.

As Matlock boss Martin Carruthers points out, Dimaio needs games and the plan was for him to play for Matlock’s under 21 side. But the recent bad weather has scuppered this idea with under 21 games being postponed.

“It’ll be great for Connor to get out on loan and get some much needed match sharpness and fitness, It’s not been ideal really with the under 21’s not having any games until mid January. We’re desperate to get him back and fully fit., A good run of four to six games at Rainworth will do him the world of good so we can get him back into our side for his quality and his passing ability, it’ll be a massive boost for us. The most important thing is to get him fit and make sure he’s not picking up any little niggles or strains. The tempo and pace will probably be a little less than at our level which will build him up nicely. We’ll be looking towards the end of January or early February to get him back in our side and ready for the final push in the remainder of the season.”

Both Matlock and the Wrens are hoping that all of the necessary paperwork is completed for him to play at Selston on Saturday.

Meanwhile Robbie McNicholas who announced his unavailability for the Gladiators recently due to his new job being based in Manchester, remains on Matlock’s books and will be playing for Kimberley MW on a dual registration arrangement.

Ian Richardson