PETER JACKSON is cool about the prospect of three midfield regulars being just one booking away from bans as Town approach the vital Christmas schedule.
That's because he has every faith in the back-up available among his Galpharm squad as Town bid to bounce back to winning form at Rotherham on Boxing Day (12.30).
Skipper Jon Worthington will miss two matches the next time he is booked while Mark Hudson and Chris Brandon - who has already served a ban for being sent-off at MK Dons - will miss one match for their next yellow cards.
It's a concern with Town facing four matches over the holiday period and a total of eight games in 20 days - including the big FA Cup third-round tie at Chelsea which yesterday became a sell-out for visiting fans.
"We don't want them all booked at once, obviously, but it's a situation we can cope with," said Jackson, who attended a regular board meeting today.
"Worthy, Brando and Huddy know the score and so do lads like Adnan Ahmed and Michael Collins, who are just itching for a chance to step back into the first-team starting line-up.
"I've already spoken to all the players who have been on the fringe of the team about what could be expected of them during this busy period of games.
"It's a spell which would test any squad in the country and I've already said that I expect to be using all my squad resources.
"With that being the case, I've stressed to them how important it is for everyone to be fit and ready to step in.
"It's a case that anyone could be called up at very short notice, but I've every faith in the lads to get the job done.
"They've worked tremendously hard all season and they've had to be very patient in waiting for chances, simply because the lads in the team have done so well.
"This could be a very big opportunity for lads on the fringe, though, and I'm sure they will all be ready."
Town still have tickets left for Sunday's match at Millmoor, when Town aim to end a run of three League games without a win.
"We weren't at our best against Southend," reflected Jackson. "But there were pluses in keeping a clean sheet, in the form of Nathan Clarke and the fact that we caught up a point on Swansea."
