Johnnie Jackson’s resources are set for a boost, as we head into a key time in the calendar.
While the immediate focus is on extending an unbeaten run in League Two to seven games, with mid-table Grimsby Town the visitors to Plough Lane for a 12.30 kick-off on Saturday, the manager has players on the way back from injury and an eye on the January transfer window.
“We’ve identified targets that we’d like,” said Johnnie. “We feel like we’ve got a good handle on the market.
“There are areas where we feel we can strengthen, then it’s down to if it works for us financially and if we can make that happen. Then we’ll look at any business we can do. We have on-going discussions with Head of Recruitment Jamie Johnson as always and it’s good to have him in the building and around us.
“We’re in constant contact and he comes in once a week. I’m in regular contact with Jamie and he’s out watching games and so too am I and my staff when it fits in with our schedule.”
There are no fresh concerns, after last weekend’s disappointing exit at home to Chesterfield in the FA Cup. With defender Chris Gunter due to return at some point from World Cup duty with Wales, Johnnie should also have more members of the current squad returning in the coming weeks with the Christmas and New Year schedule coming into view.
“It’s been a slow burner with Nathan Young-Coombes,” said Johnnie of the on-loan striker. “He had a slight setback with his rehab. Brentford sent him back a little later than we first anticipated, through no fault of anyone’s. The knee injury stayed with him a little bit longer than we’d hoped, we know it was a bad injury.
“It’s great to see him back out on the training pitch doing some running. We need to build him up now carefully, but we’re really hopeful that before too long we’re able to integrate him back into the main sessions and get him some minutes back out on the pitch.”
“Will Nightingale did some light running for the first time on Thursday. It’s wonderful for him after another bad injury. He was just finding some really good form, before he sustained the knee injury really early on in the game up at Bradford in September.
“He played on and performed brilliantly, but then we found out afterwards the extent of the injury. It’s going to take a while to get him to where he was, but I’m really pleased that he seems to be on the road back.
“Paul Osew and Lee Brown are closer to returning. Paul has had some setbacks with his ankle, while Browny is a little more straightforward with his hamstring. He’s made the right steps with his rehab and they are both getting much closer to a return.”
Photos: Ian Stephen (Pro Sports Images).
You can see the full preview and update from the training ground with Johnnie below, via the link to our official You Tube channel.