Accrington Stanley boss John Coleman is hoping for an injury boost ahead of Saturday’s trip to Charlton Athletic.
Shaun Whalley should be back from illness, Michael Nottingham is not too far away and it’s hoped striker Matt Lowe will travel to The Valley. Tommy Leigh returns after a three-game suspension but Sean McConville is banned.
The goalkeeper situation is still unclear with the Reds appealing Lukas Jensen’s red card from Tuesday although goalie Toby Savin, who is on loan at Stevenage, is on standby to recalled.
The Addicks have one win in their last six league games – and four defeats in that – and currently sit in 16th place on 41 points, seven points ahead of Stanley although the Reds have a game in hand.
Stanley are just out of the relegation places and were three league games unbeaten until their defeat at Ipswich on Tuesday.
“We have 13 games to try and get ourselves in a position where we are safe to have another crack next season,” said Coleman.
“We are starting to get players back. Hopefully Shaun Whalley will be right for Saturday and maybe the rest will have done him good.
“Michael Nottingham isn’t too far away, Matt Lowe could be fit for Saturday and Ethan Hamilton is not a million miles away.
“We have to work with the players we have and try and give the best account of ourselves that we possibly can and try and find a formula to get a result on any given game.
“We would like to play free-flowing, all-out attacking football if we had the players to do it. We possibly have the players to do it but most of them are injured.
“We have to go with what we have got and the players, in the main, give their all.
“The big problem we have had this season is everything has been stop-start. Players have been coming in and out like you wouldn’t believe and you are constantly having to rejig your midfield, rejig your centre halves or rejig your forward line and possibly rejig your keeper for Saturday.
“We have had no stability, no continuity, and that’s always been a big facet of our success.”
Coleman admits it will be a tiring week with two long trips but he is still pinching himself about where the Reds have come from.
“I was starting to complain this is a long week, going to Ipswich and getting home at 4.15am and then Friday going to Charlton which is another long trip where we will get home closer to midnight on Saturday and then playing Portsmouth on Tuesday at home.
“If someone had said 15 years ago you would be complaining about that, they would have dragged you away. Sometimes you can get blasé and if someone had told me I would have these problems 15 years ago I would have been delighted.
“Charlton will be a tough game, both teams will be wanting to win and we go there with no fear.”
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!