Boss waiting on defensive pair

CHELTENHAM Town boss Michael Duff is waiting on the fitness of defenders Matty Blair and Lewis Freestone ahead of Friday’s televised League Two clash with Tranmere Rovers.

Blair went off early in the second half and Freestone departed later on with a groin problem, and neither have trained yet this week.

Duff is hoping that they will train today (Thursday) – but he does have key pair Will Boyle and Charlie Raglan back in the fold after their injuries.

“Blairy and Lewis have not trained, but hopefully they’ll both train tomorrow,” said Duff on Wednesday morning.

“Boylo (Will Boyle) and Rags (Charlie Raglan) are back training today, so that’s a bonus.

“Hopefully they’ll be fit. People look like they are getting fitter.

“Blairy is just a knock on his ankle, so we’ll give him another 24 hours.

“Rags has only been out for three weeks, so he should be fine.

“One thing they have been is being smashed in the gym cardiovascular wise because they knew they’d need to hit the ground running.

“They have been really good in terms of that side of it.

“Match sharpness and things… I think they’ll be ready whenever called upon.

Striker George Lloyd is available again after his concussion and Josh Griffiths will return from England Under-21 duty today (Thursday).

“Lloydy is doing all his protocols and he was in on Sunday to do day one and followed them and not had any setbacks along the way, so he’s in the fold,” said Duff.

“It’s good that as we talk about the run-in, and I am sure we’ll get injuries along the way, but it looks like we are starting to get back to a full group again.