TOWN are confident Andy Booth will be fit for a key home Saturday shootout with Martin Smith.
The big homegrown frontman, who missed Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Bury because of a hamstring injury, successfully completed a light training session with physio Lee Martin yesterday.
So, too, did defender Steve Yates (groin), although neither player has been considered for tomorrow's Reserve match against Stoke at the Britannia Stadium (2.00).
Manager Peter Jackson, however - who was without eight members of his 26-strong full-pro squad at Gigg Lane - is casting around for a possible loan signing as injuries and suspensions start to bite with Town 18th in the Division III table.
Chris Holland has suffered a setback in his recovery from a calf injury while John Thorrington was today having a scan on his very troublesome ankle.
Nathan Clarke (flu) and young Joe Washington are still unable to train, although Nat Brown has recovered from his weekend illness and will lead the Reserves attack tomorrow.
Danny Schofield makes his final outing at Stoke before his three-match ban for the sending-off at Doncaster kicks into operation against Smith's Northampton this weekend.
"Andy Booth and Steve Yates both did a bit of work with Lee Martin yesterday and have reported no ill effects, which is a good sign," said Jackson today.
"Lee says Boothy is looking good to be available on Saturday, although Chris Holland's injury is causing us concern and we are keeping fingers crossed on John Thorrington's scan."
Both Jackson and coach Terry Yorath watched matches last night, while Yorath will run the rule over loan man Lee Fowler when Wales Under 21s play Finland tonight.
On the possibility of a loan, Jackson said: "At the moment we are just scouting and making sure we are prepared if the need arises.
"We have no money to spend, so it will be a matter of doing some smart talking, and I can't see anything happening in the very near future. For this Saturday, certainly, we will go in with the squad we've got."
All five players who were on the bench for the first team will play tomorrow, with impressive David Mirfin and Academy colleague John McCombe at the back.
Jackson has reviewed the action from Gigg Lane and commented: "We would have won the game but for individual errors.
"At the back, we have got to tighten up at set pieces, and you simply can't legislate for the type of mistake which Ian Gray made.
"It is unlikely he will do that during the rest of the season, so a game that we should have won ended up yielding no points.
"These are all things we are working on and I'm not going to come down heavy on the lads because there's a long way to go."
Town - Senior, Booty, McCombe, MIrfin, Lloyd, Thompson, Ahmed, Mattis, Schofield, Kenworthy, Brown.
