Accrington Stanley are aiming to move further away from the relegation places when they travel to promotion-chasing Barnsley on Saturday.
The Reds recently faced the Tykes on Boxing Day, drawing 1-1, when Michael Duff’s side were in a rich vein of form.
However they haven’t yet won in 2023 – losing to Bolton and Charlton in the league and Derby in the Emirates FA Cup – and Coleman is hoping his 19th-placed side can build on their 2-0 win over Bristol Rovers last time out.
The illness and sickness in the camp has eased slightly – they had 19 out for Tuesday’s postponed FA Cup third round replay against Boreham Wood - and Coleman is confident whatever team he puts out, will have a go.
"A couple have recovered from illness and hopefully one or two will have overcome the injuries they had so probably we have around about 13/14 out now which is still excessive," said the Reds manager.
"Aaron Pressley is getting better by the day so we haven’t ruled him out for Saturday. He has an unbelievable attitude and just wants minutes on the pitch.
"The lads appreciate they have someone to hit the ball up to and it will stick and he will win headers but we have got to get him right before he plays."
With Stanley still in the Papa Johns Trophy, the FA Cup and fighting in League One, it promises to be a busy start of the year for Stanley.
"The games are stacking up, I don’t mind it, I have never minded fixture pile-ups as I know how much I loved playing as a player," continued Coleman. "We have a mentality that if we get going we will welcome every game that comes.
"Our lads are up for the challenge, it’s a big challenge to stay up, but we are up for the fight. We have had a bonus side track in the cups and that’s given them more of a thrill going the other way.
"There are all different prizes and we will concentrate on them as and when they come. We want to get to the next round of the FA Cup, we want to get to Wembley and we want to avoid relegation, we have always been clear about that."
The immediate focus is the trip to Oakwell with Barnsley in sixth place in League One.
"They are a good side, their manager got Manager of the Month then had the curse of losing after that. We did well against them on Boxing Day, we stuck to our guns and in the second half we were good.
"Barnsley have good hard-working players who are technically good and they have physicality as well.
"When you have got good players and you can organise them, they more-or-less take care of themselves. We have had that in the past. The manager is doing well, he is an up-and-coming manager, much sought after, and I am sure he is enjoying every minute of it.
"Sometimes you feel as if things are going your way, you get the momentum and players go through things they normally wouldn’t go through and hopefully we will be in that frame of mood for Saturday."
Pressley is touch and go while it’s hoped Rosaire Longelo has shaken off a hamstring injury.
Captain Seamus Conneely is also sidelined to go with the long-term injuries of Jay Rich-Baghuelou, Matt Lowe, Joe Pritchard, Michael Nottingham, Mo Sangare, Korede Adedoyin and David Morgan.
The full pre-match interview with John Coleman is available to watch on the club's official YouTube channel, CLICK HERE to find out more!