ANTON ROBINSON and Damien Johnson could both be added to the midfield mix as Town chase a first League I win of the season at home to Colchester on Saturday.
Robinson is recovering well from the hamstring injury picked up in the opening match against Bury and is pushing for a recall as Town return to the Galpharm Stadium after three games on the road.
And Johnson will today have another key isokinetic test as he regains full fitness following last season’s knee ligament surgery.
“Damien is making great progress,” said manager Lee Clark, who picked Oscar Gobern, Tommy Miller and Scott Arfield across the middle for Tuesday’s goalless stalemate at Hartlepool, Town’s third draw in as many league games.
“His fitness levels are fantastic, he has been really impressive in training and we’re optimistic about this latest test.
“It measures the strength of the quad and hamstring muscles in the injured leg against the other, and if you get within a certain percentage, it means the final boxes are ticked. Damien’s been getting stronger and stronger over the last few weeks, and while there is no point in taking any risks, we all feel he’s getting very close.”
Former Bournemouth man Robinson was the last of Clark’s eight close-season recruits and the boss said: “He’s looking strong and could well come into contention.”
Colchester are ninth, six places above Town but with just a point more, after Tuesday’s 2-0 home defeat to early leaders Charlton.
It’s the first of consecutive home league clashes for Town, who host Wycombe on Saturday week after next Tuesday’s Carling Cup second-round tie at Championship club Cardiff.
“At this stage last season we had just one more point, there is real talent in what is a developing group of players, and we believe that first league win is just around the corner,” added Clark.
