JON WORTHINGTON is a relieved man.

The 21-year-old has been walking a disciplinary tightrope for the last few weeks but is now free of the threat of suspension.

He came through the 1-0 win against Southend with a total of nine bookings - one short of a ban - and the cut-off for suspensions was yesterday!

"It's tremendous news," said manager Peter Jackson, who is without suspended strikers Andy Booth and Pawel Abbott when Town tackle Scunthorpe at the McAlpine on Saturday.

They were both in an unchanged Town line-up at Kidderminster today (3.00), but Booth will miss out on Saturday while Abbott starts a three-game suspension for his sending-off at Orient.

Worthington has served two bans this season, one for reaching five bookings and the other for his dismissal at Accrington in the FA Cup.

Jackson said: "I know what I'm going to do to cover the suspensions, but the most important thing is that we keep showing the same effort and desire to win games.

"The lads are standing up to be counted and maybe another three wins will now be enough to get the job done. The lads are certainly feeling confident and determined."