Crosby back with Tranmere after mother's heart attack

Andy Crosby was appointed on a permanent basis by Tranmere in May after keeping the club in League Two last season as interim manager

Manager Andy Crosby will return to the Tranmere dugout against Newport on Saturday after missing Rovers' midweek cup game because his mother suffered a suspected heart attack.

Crosby rushed across to the family home in Rotherham to be at her side, leaving assistant Andy Parkinson to take charge for the EFL Trophy game against Nottingham Forest Under-21s.

"It was obviously an extremely difficult situation getting the phone call at 2pm on Tuesday afternoon after it happened," Crosby said.

"My dad had to administer CPR, I was two-and-a-half hours from my mum and dad and so many things go through your head.

"I got over there on Tuesday afternoon and saw some things that were difficult to watch and observe but 72 hours later she is with us and she is making some good progress.

"There's been moments in the last couple of weeks with a couple of the players where they have issues within their own private lives and I always said to the players that families are most important. I try to support them in every single way I can.

"When it was me on Tuesday night I was thinking - 'I'm the manager of this football club but my mum and dad needed me'."

The former Port Vale manager, who was appointed on a permanent basis with Tranmere in May, was pleased with what he saw from the penalty shootout victory over Forest when he came to review the game on Wednesday.

"The competition is frowned upon in some circles but ultimately it leads to Wembley as well," he told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"But tomorrow is a new game and we are prepared and ready for the challenge Newport will bring."