SIMON GRAYSON believes Gary Roberts can make a major contribution as Huddersfield Town push for automatic promotion.

While Jordan Rhodes was named League I Player of the Year by the division’s managers, his teammate was also in the top 10.

Grayson shares the view that the 27-year-old winger is a quality performer, and confirmed he is ready to feature in the starting XI if selected.

“When I first arrived, Gary was just returning after surgery on a hernia,” said Grayson ahead of tomorrow’s key trip to Colchester.

“He started my first match against Exeter, but I decided he’d returned that little bit too soon, and I think he would agree.

“We’ve had to be a bit careful with him, which is why he’s been on the bench, but he’s looking nice and sharp now.

“Gary has some great qualities – he wants the ball, he can keep it, and he can use it well – and he can be a big part of what we’re trying to do.”

The boss also has captain and centre-back Peter Clarke pushing for a recall as he tries to tighten a defence which has conceded seven goals in five games since his arrival.

And right-back Jack Hunt is available for the trio to Essex after being forced off by an ankle injury during last Saturday’s 2-2 home draw with Rochdale.

But scans have revealed Damien Johnson suffered a grade-two hamstring tear during that game, ruling out the experienced former Birmingham man who is on a season-long loan from Plymouth for three to four weeks.

And Grayson is also missing midfielders Oscar Gobern (hamstring) and Tommy Miller (hernia) as he plots what would be a fourth double of the campaign for his fourth-placed side.

“You always wants options, but with Antony Kay, Joey Gudjonsson, Scott Arfield and Anton Robinson available, we aren’t too badly off central midfield-wise,” he said.

Colchester, ninth after Tuesday’s 1-1 home draw with second-placed Sheffield United, have promotion ambitions of their own.

“It was a good performance against Sheffield, and it showed we will have to be right on our game,” said Grayson.

“They have an experienced manager in John Ward, they are well organised and they have two good strikers in Kayode Odejayi and Steven Gillespie.

“We have to win our individual battles, concentrate better than them and work harder than them, and if we do that, we feel we have a great opportunity to win.”

Former Cheltenham man Gillespie has netted 11 times this season, making him joint-top U’s scorer with attacking midfielder Anthony Wordsworth

Meanwhile Grayson confirmed he is still looking at a couple of potential loan signings ahead of next Thursday’s deadline.

“There are a couple of possibilities, and the chairman has said he will back us if the right deals can be struck,” said Grayson.

“We have a good squad and the players already here have done well, but one or two new faces could just freshen things up and give us that extra push.”