Town boss Kieran McKenna says the Blues are going to have to make late checks on “quite a few players” ahead of Saturday’s home game against Cheltenham with members of his squad suffering from illness and knocks.

Tyreece John-Jules missed Monday’s FA Cup victory at Bracknell with a minor injury, while Marcus Harness was absent as he was unwell.

Quizzed on their situations at his lunchtime press conference, manager Kieran McKenna said: “We have a few illnesses with Marcus one of them. We’ve had a little bit around the building and we have a few knocks as well.

“To be honest, we’re going to make late checks on quite a few players and see how we are for tomorrow and we’ll probably have a little bit more information on a few of the injuries.

“The boys who are coming back are progressing well, Gassan [Ahadme, foot] and Greg [Leigh, compressed leg fracture] are very close to training with the group, which is good. We have a few others who need fitness tomorrow, who we’ll report on after the game.”

McKenna hopes striker Ahadme could be training with the squad very soon: “Hopefully next week, so we’re thinking in and around the Buxton game, he could be available for selection, which would be a big boost.”

Midfielder Lee Evans is among the longer-term absentees having suffered a knee injury against Derby.

“I’m not sure on the exact timescales, it’s in and around the Christmas period,” McKenna said when asked about the Welshman’s progress.

“He’s still in the brace so it’s very much letting the ligament in his knee heal, it needs healing time and there’s not been any further decisions about how fast that will accelerate, that’s a little bit further down the line.”

Forward Sone Aluko also remains sidelined with a knee injury until around Christmas, while third-choice keeper Nick Hayes is out for some months with an ankle problem.

Given the reduced numbers, how has training been since the Bracknell match? “We’ve had a good week. Monday night was a nice game to come through and the we’ve had a couple of training days.

“The squad is quite tight at the moment, it’s been that way for maybe six weeks or so now, which is different for us, we started off with a bigger numbers at the start of the season.

“But we’re working with tighter numbers at the moment and it has its positives and its negatives. As I’ve said before, everyone feels really close to the team at the moment, you’re able to give the players lots of individual attention, everybody knows that they’ve got a great chance to get on the pitch on a matchday and we’re not having to leave anyone out of matchday squads.

“But on the other hand we don’t have quite the options and the depth that we had at the start of the season and the ability to make so many substitutes so early in the game and freshen up in certain positions.

“That’s the way it is. You’re going to have different spells at different stages of the season where your numbers are bigger or smaller and there are pros and cons to both and we’re making the most of having the tight group at the moment.”

Do the reduced numbers make your job a little bit easier? “I understand the question and in some ways it is. I've worked with both, I've worked with really big squads and a tighter squad and people always think that having a big squad or having lots of players is easy, and I can assure you that it is certainly not.

“I think our squad numbers from the start of the season have been pretty tight, to be honest.

“We've worked off of 20 or 21 senior outfielders and I know there are a lot of teams in the league who are working off of 24, 25 or 26 senior outfielders. So, our numbers have been really nice across the whole season. I think we've had a nice compact squad.

“Of course, we've picked up much more injuries that what we would have expected and accounted for, so we've ended up a little bit tighter. But as you said, in some ways, it has its benefits.

“Players-wise, they feel really close to the team and really involved and for me, one of the worst parts of being a manager, and I think most managers would say the same, is on a Friday when you have to decide who is not going to make the subs bench.

“Because players train well all week and compete to be involved in the game and as a footballer they all want to be there on a Saturday. And, of course, they all want to start.

“But I think when you're in the matchday squad, you feel close to it and especially with five subs, you know there's a good chance you're going to get on the pitch and be able to contribute.

“And the hardest part of the job is probably leaving people at home to train who don't feel that connection with the team because they've not been involved in the game.

“So, the nice part of that decision is the fact that at the moment, pretty much for every game, everyone has been involved and that enables us to keep a really tight feel to the squad.”

Photo: TWTD

SamWhiteUK added 14:56 - Nov 11 The Buxton game would be an ideal chance for Ahadme if he can get fit by then.
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Broadhill added 15:51 - Nov 11 Sounds like we have a few issues over players that are fit tomorrow. Could be a few changes by the sound of things
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Karlosfandangal added 17:40 - Nov 11 Was looking forward to seeing Ahadme playing as I was hoping he was going to score loads of goals, might struggle this season now as he has to get up to speed and get use to the team plus he will have to displace Ladapo who seems to be starting to score goals
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gosblue added 17:43 - Nov 11 No need to raid the transfer market in January, just raid the sick bay. Some real quality coming back over the next few weeks. God help the rest of the league when we have a fully fit squad. I do think we are one or two CFs light although Ladapo and JJ are doing really well. COYB
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