Striker Nathan Young-Coombes comes back into contention for Saturday’s trip to the County Ground to face Swindon Town.
The 19-year-old Brentford loanee got off to a great start with us, scoring three goals in his ten appearances so far, but last played in mid-September when he picked up a knee injury in the home game against Northampton Town. He’s now fully recovered, having completed his rehabilitation with the Premier League club, and back in manager Johnnie Jackson’s thoughts.
“He’s been back with us all week,” said Johnnie on Friday. “He’s trained really well. It’s been good to have him back among the group, he’s a character! It’s been good to hear his voice and the energy he brings to the group. He is someone that we’ll be looking to re-introduce back into the squad.”
Welsh international defender Chris Gunter returned to the training ground a week ago, having been on duty out in Qatar at the World Cup. Although his experience bolsters our numbers at a key time, he has work to do to get back in our starting eleven.
“The minute Wales went out of the tournament we spoke,” said Johnnie. “He told me how keen he was to get back with the group. They had their own send off in Qatar, but as soon as he could be back in the training ground he was, in the build-up last Friday to the Grimsby game.
“He’s had a lot on his plate, in terms of travel and the emotions that go with being at a World Cup, so we decided to go with Chris on the bench. He’s had a full week’s training, so he comes back into contention."
“In his position, young Huseyin Biler has come in and done excellent. I’ve spoken about him and a lot of the young lads – that if they are doing the business on the training pitch and in the games they are given opportunities – then he deserves his place in the starting line-up in the league.
“It doesn’t matter to me how old they are, where they’ve come from, where they’ve been, what career they’ve had up-to-date or if they’ve had no career up to now in senior football. If I feel like they are the best person for the job, in any situation, I’ll put them in.”
Not only will it be a return to Swindon for our striker Josh Davison, who spent the second half of last season on loan from Charlton, it’ll also bring back memories for Johnnie as a player - when he was with the Wiltshire club on loan from Tottenham in 2002.
“He had a really good spell there last season,” said Johnnie. “I know he enjoyed playing there and it’s a club that we both know well. I had a loan spell myself at Swindon and really enjoyed it, so it’s familiar territory for us both – although a little bit more recent for Josh than my one! He’ll be going there wanting to put on a good show and get back among the goals.”
You can see the full preview with Johnnie Jackson below, via the link to our official YouTube channel.