United manager Mark Robins gave an injury update in his press conference ahead of the third round FA Cup tie with Chesterfield on Tuesday.
The Iron’s squad was hit with injuries in the first few months of the 2014/15 Sky Bet League One campaign and Robins is pleased to see a number of absentees on the road to recovery.“We’re okay (at the moment), we are getting a few bodies back and fit,” Robins told The Iron Player.
“We haven’t had a game for over a week now, which has been a pain but it is what it is.”
Eddie Nolan made a comeback from injury in November against Forest Green and he failed to shake off a niggling problem which has kept him out since.
Deon Burton played two games on loan at York City before returning with injury and, speaking of the two, the manager said: “They are getting better. They have had plenty of time with their respective injuries. Deon has been training for a few days now and Eddie is the same, he has had a few sessions back.”
Luke Waterfall recently returned from a loan spell at Mansfield, where he played seven times for the Stags and Robins didn’t want to rule out the 24-year-old’s chances at Glanford Park.
Liam O’Neil’s loan spell from West Brom is set to expire and the Iron boss did not want to speculate about the midfielder’s future at the club.
“His future remains to be seen, he is under contract until the end of the season so we will see what it brings,” Robins said.
“(O’Neil) There has been no decision from that perspective. We work quietly behind the scenes and until things are done, we won’t comment on them. Players belong to other clubs and they have to have meetings to decide what they want to do.
“We are trying to press ahead on other options.”
One player who he was happy to speak about was defender Alex Davey, who extended his stay from Chelsea until the end of the campaign after impressing in the centre of defence, making four appearances so far.
Luke Williams, meanwhile, has returned to Middlesbrough after the end of his loan spell, with injury, and the United boss was unsure of whether he would return to North Lincolnshire, but Bobby Olejnik will not be rejoining this month, after signing on loan at York City.
“I am pleased to have that one done (Davey’s deal)," he said.
“Alex has done well with his contribution, we have had some good results and some decent performances, so I am happy to continue that one and Chelsea were happy to extend it as well.
“Luke Williams is back with Middlesbrough and they are assessing him as we speak, but he will probably be a little bit longer than we first thought.
“There’s no point having Bobby Olejnik around if he is not going to play. He has moved on and we wish him all the best. He is a great lad and a decent goalkeeper but Sam (Slocombe) has done nothing wrong since I have been in and he’s returned between the sticks. He has worked hard and deserves his place in the team.”
With the January transfer window now open, Robins was keen to keep his cards close to his chest regarding incoming and outgoing deals, but he insists his coaching team is working hard to make it a successful month in helping the United squad move forward.
He added: “I’m pleased with the way we are progressing as a group, they have done everything they have been asked and long may that continue. We will continue the good work we have started.
“We have Lee Turnbull, with two or three part-time scouts, so it is not extensive by any stretch of the imagination, so myself and the staff get to as many games as we possibly can. Hopefully it will be a busy month and hopefully we can get one or two players of our own some game time, whether it be here or somewhere else.”
See much more from Mark Robins and Andrew Boyce on The Iron Player.