Panutche Camara, Cameron Burgess and Dominic Ball have all returned to training, while the Blues have suffered no new knocks ahead of Saturday’s home game against Lincoln City.

Camara is yet to make his debut for Town having joined the club with a groin problem at the start of last month, while Burgess underwent surgery for a facial injury suffered in the game against Bristol Rovers and has trained in a mask.

“He joined in fully today for the first time, joined in a little bit on Wednesday and full training today for the first time,” McKenna said of Camara, “So he and Cam Burgess were both able to get involved with training today.

“Cam Burgess still unopposed and Panutche full training. That’s positive on that front, it shortens the injury list and strengthens up our numbers for the next few weeks.”

Camara did train with the squad when he initially came to the club before spending time working with the physios but today marked the first time he has trained without the injury hampering him.

“I think full training and pain free,” McKenna added. “He did train with us when he first arrived but was still carrying an issue that had dogged him through pre-season and it was something that we didn’t want to drag on any longer and we wanted him to get a proper fresh run at it.

“He’s feeling good, he’s feeling pain free and he’s looking fit and I’m sure is going to be keen to push over the next few weeks.

“There’s an adaptation and an adjustment for him to how we play and that can take a little bit of time but we’re delighted to have him now back with the group and I’m sure he’s going to have an impact for us.”

McKenna says the Guinea-Bissau international could make his Blues debut in the Papa Johns Trophy tie at Cambridge on Tuesday.

“We’re hoping he could be available, obviously not for 90 minutes but we’re hoping he’ll be available for some minutes in that game if all goes well over the next few days,” he continued.

“Cameron Burgess, we need to now have a week or so’s non-contact training, so he won’t be available for Tuesday or likely the week after that but possible shortly after next week.”

Regarding Ball, who missed last week’s trip to Morecambe having suffered a bad cut to his leg, McKenna said: “Dominic trained today fully with the group, so that was a bonus.

“As I said last week, he picked up a gash in his leg, which needed some time. We thought it might need stitching but thankfully it didn’t, it just needed some days to recover and he’s now fully back fit and part of the squad for tomorrow.”

McKenna says there are no new injuries among his squad: “No, we’re in a healthier place this week. As I said, Panutche and Cameron are starting to reintegrate back into training, Dominic back training with the group and that just leaves Gassan [Ahadme], Sone [Aluko] and Greg [Leigh] as the slightly longer term absences.”

Ahadme suffered a foot fracture in the latter stages at Plymouth and Town should have a better idea how long the former Burton man is out for later this week.

“I think he’s got a scan next week, I believe, and after the scan next week we’ll see how the bone healing is and be able to put a more definite timeline on it,” McKenna said.

Leigh picked up a compression fracture to his leg in the Sheffield Wednesday match and isn’t going to be available until around the holiday period.

“It’s quite a significant injury,” McKenna said, “So I think it’s going to be in and around the Christmas period, maybe a bit before, maybe a bit after.”

Photo: Matchday Images

MaySixth added 15:28 - Oct 14 COYB
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Suffolkboy added 20:31 - Oct 14 Chins up, one and all– keep believing ! COYB
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ArnieMsBigToe added 08:23 - Oct 15 Blimey!! What a squad. I reckon even Plymouth and Sheffield Wednesday are worried
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KiwiTractor added 09:34 - Oct 15 How tall is Camara, towering over the crossbar in that photo.... =-)
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