DELROY FACEY'S return to Town could not have been more timely as Andy Booth has suffered an injury setback in training.
Groin injury victim Booth has missed the last three matches and will now sit out Saturday's big derby showdown with Bradford City at Valley Parade.
Booth's training niggle means he's facing at least another fortnight on the sidelines, leaving loan man Facey and 21-goal leading scorer Pawel Abbott with the task of firing Town back up the League I standings.
"Boothy felt a little bit of a twinge and, while it's nothing too serious, it has set him back an extra week," said manager Peter Jackson today.
"At least we've covered for potential problems like this by bringing Delroy back to the club and, judging by the impact he's had so far, he's fired up to do an excellent job for us."
Booth will train this week under the supervision of physio Lee Martin.
Efe Sodje and brother Akpo were both absent from training yesterday because of a virus, but they are hoping to be available for tomorrow's Pontin's League Division I East clash with Notts County at the Galpharm (2.00). Club captain Rob Edwards (leg muscle) and striker Junior Mendes (groin) will make their returns to action in that match.
"We will have a final look at the pair of them in training to make sure there is no risk, but all being well both Rob and Junior will play 45 minutes tomorrow," explained Jackson.
"It's great to have them close to fitness again but we won't push them too much in a first match run-out since lay-offs."
Should Efe be fit, he will play in a back three with Steve Yates and John McCombe. Anthony Lloyd will play at left wing-back, Nat Brown on the right and Edwards in a midfield three with Lee Fowler and Danny Schofield.
John McAliskey and Mendes are in line to lead the attack with Akpo Sodje, if fit, ready to take over from the latter for half a game.
Town have only 350 tickets left for Saturday's trip to Bradford and it looks like being a sell-out for the visitors.
Town Reserves - Senior, Brown, Yates, E Sodje, McCombe, Lloyd, Edwards, Fowler, Schofield, McAliskey, Mendes. Subs: A Sodje plus 1st years and Academy.
