Harry Phipps and Jack Wadham will both be available for selection ahead of the trip to Farnham Town in the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round, giving Chris Agutter a selection headache in preparation for the trip across Surrey.
Both players have been absent since the 1-1 draw with Woking last month, but have trained in the week and have quickly returned to full fitness, along with Mo Dabre, who got another 60 minutes into his legs in Agutter’s maiden game in charge against Braintree Town on Saturday, and has no issues regarding his physical condition.
The Italian midfielder has started the last two games as well as making a substitute appearance against Boston United, and looks ready to complete a full 90 minutes for the first time since arriving from Tonbridge Angels in the summer, having picked up a reoccurring hamstring injury in a Behind Closed Doors’ pre-season friendly against Cambridge United.
The Head Coach has said Saturday’s match is an opportunity for others to grab the shirt, with Agutter praising the players who came on last time out against Braintree Town.
“The players who came on the pitch; I thought David Ogbonna and Brandon [Njoku] were both excellent when they came on. There’s certainly competition for places, and as we saw last week if we’re not quite where we eed to be we’ll make changes, which we did week mid-game.
The whole squad is incredibly important but more from a perspective of we want competition for places as for me that will help drive the level of performance.
The boys along the backline were great last week, worst case keep a clean sheet and get a point on the board and go one game unbeaten, that’s credit to – not just them but they played a key part – so they’ll be keeping their shirt and it’ll be up to one of the alternatives to take it off them.”
As for those who remain missing, Saturday’s trip to Farnham will come too soon for Jack Sims, who continues to recover from a back spasm sustained in the warm-up ahead of the Yeovil Town match.
Sims’ understudy David Aziaya has therefore taken his place in between the sticks in both of the U’s last two outings, and has continued to back up Agutter’s faith on the training pitch this week, with the Head Coach describing him as more than capable alternative.
Agutter also said he was ‘itching’ to get Alex Woodyard back, with the midfielder edging closer to a return to action. The former Colchester United man was involved in a collision which led to a knock on his hyperextended knee back in August, but is still a couple of weeks away from making his first appearance since the trip to Forest Green Rovers.
Dillon De Silva and Kane Crichlow will also both be unavailable for the trip to the Memorial Ground due to international commitments.
De Silva has linked back up with the Sri Lanka squad for their Asia Cup double-header against Turkmenistan, contributing to narrow victory in the first game on Thursday, and will be looking to make it two in two with a trip to Arkadag Stadiony (Tuesday, 14th October; 2:45pm KO GMT) as the Golden Army aim to leapfrog their opponents and climb to the summit of Group D.
Crichlow meanwhile is amongst the Bermuda squad as they continue their quest to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with games against Trinidad & Tobago (Friday, 10th October (11pm KO GMT) and Jamaica (Wednesday, 15th October; 1am KO GMT).
