JOHN McALISKEY should now aim to make himself a Town regular.

That's the message from manager Peter Jackson to the 22-year-old striker, who is back after a month on loan at League II Wrexham.

McAliskey, whose only senior appearance this season was as a substitute in the 2-1 home win against Bristol City, played four times at the Racecourse Ground but was only on the bench for Saturday's 2-1 home defeat by MK Dons.

"I spoke to Denis Smith (Wrexham's manager) yesterday to see what the score was with Macca," explained Jackson, who hopes to be cleared today by an FA disciplinary hearing of bringing the game into disrepute.

"Denis has changed his system, which meant Macca was only on the bench, and I explained that there wasn't really much point him staying there if he wasn't going to get regular first-team football.

"The first couple of games over there Macca did really well and I hope he's learned from the whole experience, because he's now got to really push for a place in our team."

McAliskey has gone straight into the squad for tonight's Johnstone's Paint Trophy first-round tie against Doncaster at the Galpharm (7.45).

He could also figure in tomorrow night's Pontin's Holidays League Central Division home game for the Reserves against Barnsley (7.00) if he doesn't play a full 90 minutes against Sean O'Driscoll's side tonight.

Long-term injury victims David Mirfin and Gary Taylor-Fletcher miss out tonight along with Tom Clarke (knee) and Andy Holdsworth (ankle), who was hurt in training at Storthes Hall yesterday.

"There was no-one near him," explained Jacko.

"Andy just went over on the ankle and all we could do was get his foot straight into ice.

"We'll have to assess it over the next couple of days with a view to Saturday's trip down to Port Vale.

"It's much the same with Tom Clarke and we are just keeping our fingers crossed that his visit to the specialist today brings good news."

Jackson was being accompanied by John Duncan, of the League Managers' Association, as he went before FA disciplinary chiefs today.

He is defending a charge of improper conduct after a touchline altercation with Bristol City's Lee Johnson at the Galpharm back in August, when Town's boss was asked to sit in the stand.

"I asked for a personal hearing to defend myself and to show how serious I am about doing exactly that," he said.

"I am going to state my case as to exactly what happened and I hope that will be enough for the hearing to realise I'm not guilty."

It's £10 admission for adults tonight, £5 concessions, and only the main Riverside Stand upper and lower tiers are open.

Town have a half-price programme (£1.50) on sale tonight for the Paint tie, but it's still a glossy 32-page publication featuring news, views and interviews from the Galpharm.

Town (from): Glennon, Rachubka, Hardy, Clarke (N), McCombe, Adams, Hand, Young, Brandon, Worthington, Ahmed, McAliskey, Collins, Beckett, Hudson, Schofield, Booth, Abbott.