EFE SODJE is confident he will be ready to do battle for Town against York City on Saturday.
The 30-year-old international returns just 24 hours before the McAlpine showdown after joining up with the Nigeria squad in Japan.
Town's latest signing is expected to play in tomorrow night's friendly in Tokyo before completing a 12,000-mile round trip back home via Paris.
The former Crewe centre-back has been on the telephone to manager Peter Jackson, however, insisting he will be okay for the match on Saturday.
Jackson, who is hoping midfielder Lee Fowler comes through tonight's Wales Under 21 game against Serbia-Montenegro in Novi Sad, explained:
"Efe knows I'm concerned about how he will be when he gets back, but he himself is quite confident he will be fine.
"He has told me not to worry, but we will assess his tiredness on Saturday."
Jackson is confident that Steve Yates (hamstring) and Tony Carss (back) will be ready for the Bank Holiday double header - Town go to Doncaster on Monday - but he faces an anxious wait on skipper Rob Edwards who was injured at Boston.
"Robbie didn't train yesterday and he is the biggest concern at the moment," said Jackson. "He will continue to have treatment from the physio, Lee Martin, but it's too early to say whether Robbie will be able to come back into training on Thursday and push for the team this weekend.
"At least we've got Martyn Booty in the squad who is more than capable of filling in. He played a full season there once for Dario Gradi at Crewe, largely because Dario likes a right-footed player there so he can cut inside and pass the ball.
"Martyn has no problems with that and he's a good, versatile man to have about the club in addition to being great in the dressing room.
"Even the other night against Derby, when he was left out, I could see him on the video cheering the lads on in the background. That's a great attitude, and he was also leaping around when we scored."
Town have received a further allocation of 800 tickets for the Doncaster match and these are now on general sale. Seat prices are £13 (adults) and £7 concessions while standing, it's £10 for adults, £7 seniors and £3 for Under 16s.
Meanwhile, Academy midfielder Michael Collins has been added to the Republic of Ireland Under 18 squad for a tournament in the Czech Republic from August 26-30.
The 17-year-old from Halifax, who qualifies because his grandmother is from Limerick, joins teammate Mark Sheridan in the party to play the host nation, Slovakia and Sweden next Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday respectively. John McAliskey and Joe Walsh are also Irish qualified.
Next story
