ANDY Holdsworth could be set for a rapid return to action for Town’s home clash with Cheltenham on Saturday.
The 25-year-old right-back limped out of Town’s 3-1 defeat at Tranmere Rovers just after the hour on Saturday with an ankle injury, but manager Lee Clark is hopeful that the defender will be fit for the fray.
“Andy didn’t train yesterday, but we are looking for him to train in the later part of the week,” said Clark.
“He took knocks on the ankle a couple of times and had to come off, but we feel that he could be ready.”
That could allow Clark to retain the starting line-up that faced both MK Dons and Tranmere last week, though other options could be open.
Clark was not ruling out a return to the squad for striker Danny Cadamarteri at the weekend, but Town are waiting on results of a scan.
“We have had the scan just to see if there is improvement with his calf problem and when we see the results we can maybe look at stepping up his training with regard to the weekend,” said Clark.
Town will wait another week at least for the return of central defender Nathan Clarke, who is battling to shake off a knee injury.
However, the Town boss was more interested in how his side reacted to his comments after their second half display at Prenton Park.
“It is all about the reaction we get from them and whether they put themselves forward and deal with what is happening,” said Clark. “In the first half at Tranmere I thought we could get a result, but the second half wasn’t what we were looking for.
“A lot of it is about character and how players react when things are not going smoothly.”
Town face a reserve team test against Hartlepool at Billingham tomorrow night (7pm) when the victors could take a significant step towards the league title, but Clark was playing a waiting game as to just which personnel would be involved.
“We’re not sure who will play as we are still assessing some injuries and we will have to see what numbers we have got.”
