Ryan Bennett and Danny Andrew have both returned to Cambridge United training ahead of Saturday’s crucial final Sky Bet League One clash of the season at Port Vale.
The experienced defensive duo were both 11th hour drop outs from Tuesday evening’s 1-1 draw with Wycombe Wanderers due to illness, which forced head coach Garry Monk into a late reshuffle that saw midfielder Paul Digby and full-back James Gibbons form part of a back three alongside Jubril Okendia.
However, as the U’s prepare to head to Vale Park armed with the knowledge that a single point will guarantee survival, Monk’s options are set to be boosted.
“They’re back out at training today and thankfully well on the mend,” said Monk.
“That was just really unfortunate timing for us. It was one of those bugs and there’s quite a lot going around from speaking to other coaches and managers at other clubs.
“It seems to have flushed out of their system and they were back out on the grass today. There’s no worries with that and we’ve got another day (of training) tomorrow so we’ll have a good look at them.”
News of the likely return of Bennett and Andrew is a particularly welcome boost for Monk, who has ruled fellow defenders Zeno Ibsen Rossi, Mamadou Jobe and captain Michael Morrison out of the trip to Vale Park.
The absences of Rossi and Jobe in particular are likely to force Monk into a different approach from a tactical perspective. In recent weeks those two have been encouraged to use their ability and composure on the ball, often driving into midfield to create overloads and retain possession.
Monk added: “Possibly (we have to change tactically). The key to coaching and management of players is not asking them to do something they can’t do or that they don’t feel comfortable doing.
“We have good players. Mamadou and Zeno have added to that, definitely. And that’s exciting when you look beyond this, the potential of those two players.
“But we’ve got players in those positions that are capable of doing certain things with and without the ball.
“My idea has always been with whatever team or squad we have, it’s trying to put them on the pitch where they feel comfortable.
“Whichever way we set up on Saturday it will be with that intention in mind. Hopefully that comes out in the performance and you see that on the pitch.
“We have to be adaptable and do different things. Sometimes you set up and for whatever reason it isn’t quite right or it gets affected by the opposition. You have to find other solutions to it.
“Putting them on the pitch with the clarity and clear mind of what we want to do, how we want to impose ourselves on the game – that’s what we’re always trying to do.”
