DEAN KEATES has been thwarted in his bid to bring in a goalkeeper as cover.

Wrexham head to Torquay United tomorrow with Christian Dibble continuing between the posts with first choice stopper Rob Lainton missing again.

Lainton suffered a nasty head injury in last Saturday's 1-1 draw at Bromley and return to play protocols must be followed until he is made available.

With Dawid Szczepaniak on loan at Cefn Druids, Wrexham did not have a goalkeeper on the substitutes bench for Tuesday's 1-0 defeat at home to Altrincham and Keates revealed attempts to sign an un-named player hit a brick wall.

"We have to follow protocols with Rob. We are okay at the moment on it," said Keates.

"I tried to add, 36 hours it took us to get an answer back whether we could add or not which is a bit shambolic so it has not been ideal how it has played out.

"There was no clarity on the answer. There was a non-contract player, we thought we could do it but then we found he has played; even though he is not under contract, it was after the window closed so we could not get any defined answer or clarity off either FA.

"If we have any issues, we will have to look at something else and make sure it is somebody who has not played."

Under the new tier system, Torquay will be allowed to have fans present at Plainmoor tomorrow for the first time this season because of the coronavirus pandemic but the capacity has been significantly reduced.

No Wrexham supporters can attend the game and Keates, hoping his side can bounce back from the Altrincham defeat which ended a five game unbeaten run, just took the ruling on the chin.

"Is anything fair? Not really," said Keates.

"Is it fair that we are struggling to get another keeper in when it is easier for people who just fall directly under the English FA?

"We have just got to get on with it, there is no point moaning about it.

"We will go down to Torquay and just do our best.

"The lads will have to make sure we turn up and make sure that Altrincham is just a bump in the road."