COACH Terry Yorath today highlighted the importance of Andy Booth's return as Town look to re-ignite a play-off push.

Saturday's goalless draw at Colchester - which Booth missed because of a thigh injury - left Town 11th in the table and four points off the top six as they prepare to tackle Wrexham at the Galpharm this weekend.

Yorath is keen to quickly close that gap on the play-off placings and still firmly believes Town will be in the promotion shake-up come May, despite a run of five matches without a win in all competitions.

"I don't see many other sides in the division who are comprehensively better than us so I'm very confident we will be up there," said Yorath today.

"We are as good as anyone at this level and if we build on our clean sheet and a good away point at Colchester with the consistency we want, then we'll be fine.

"The more we keep it tight while converting our chances, of course, will help a lot, but we've got players coming back to fitness and that's bound to help at this stage of the season."

While club captain Rob Edwards returned as a second half substitute at Layer Road, Yorath believes Booth is a key figure in planning for a strong improved run.

His absence meant Pawel Abbott playing as a lone striker against Colchester and Town packing midfield to help the defence.

"A lot depends on your strikers in this game and, without being disrespectful to Pav or Junior Mendes, they haven't got the physical presence of Boothy," added Yorath, who is hoping Lee Fowler will be fit to play in the home Reserve game against Lincoln City on Wednesday (2.00).

"In some games you need that physical presence because you can't always play your pretty football.

"Sometimes you have to hit your big frontman and play off that, and with Boothy out at the moment we don't really have anyone who can do a similar job. Akpo would probably be the nearest, but he's a bit raw and he's also out injured just now.

"We know Boothy is not going to play all season and, in fact, I doubt whether he will ever play a whole season again, but he is very, very important to us.

"That's why we left him out on Saturday so that we could get some rest into him and, when he returns, we will have an energy-filled Andy Booth ready to play his part for the club again."

Reflecting on Town's third straight League draw, Yorath added: "I thought it took us 25 minutes to get used to the system and then, when we adjusted a few things in the second half, we were fine.

"People might look at it as two points dropped but it isn't. Colchester are a good side who will challenge this season and we knew we had to stop them.

"We were due a clean sheet and I thought Clarke, Mirfin and Yates were really solid. I also thought Mirfin and Clarke did well on the ball."

Attention turns to Town Juniors tomorrow night (7.00) when they face Boston at York Street in the second round of the FA Youth Cup.