Manager Paul Hurst has provided an update on injury news ahead of the home game versus Port Vale at the Sands Venue Stadium on Saturday.
He told iFollow Iron: “Junior Brown has been ruled out for two-to-three weeks with a little injury on some scar tissue in his thigh, but he’s one who could be back running next week. He seems in good spirits and Michael (McBride, head of medical services) was pleased with the work he’s done in the gym, so I don’t think it’s anything major.
“We’re hoping to get the go-ahead on numerous plauers returning to the grass next week in terms of running, and perhaps joining in, so hopefully come the Forest Green game we’ll have a bigger squad available for selection.
“Jamie Ward and Jordan Hallam unfortunately won’t be in contention for the weekend, but both will be training fully next week and possibly involved at Blackpool (in the Leasing.com Trophy second round) on Wednesday night. All being well though, they’ll certainly be available for the Forest Green game.
“In the meantime, we’re similar to what we were last week, with the exception of Ryan Colclough, who’s ruled himself out through illness. He hasn’t trained this week. He’s been in today but hasn’t trained with the group.
“George Miller has come through training fine so comes into consideration for the squad.”
United go into the game looking to build on the back-to-back wins against Sunderland in the Leasing.com Trophy and Leyton Orient in the league.
But Hurst knows it will be tough against a Valiants team, who are in contention for the play-offs and have won their last four games.
The boss added: “They’ve had the same record as us in the last six games, and beat Carlisle last time out, after Crewe away from home before that, so they’ll be in confident mood coming here.
“However, we’ve done well recently and our home form is pretty good too, so the ingredients are there for a tough encounter – hopefully a good game for everyone, but one we want to try and win, to back-up what was our first away league win of the season. I’m really looking forward to the game.
“I get the feeling things are improving, and I also sense that it’s going up a notch again. We’ll only find that out over the coming weeks in terms of results. We have some tough, big games coming up that won’t be easy and will be a real test for us to see if we have progressed, but it’s certainly the feeling I’m getting. Hopefully we can show that, and it’s born out of a good feeling at the minute within the group and confidence levels rising.
“Port Vale are a very hard-working team that look like they’ve got a good spirit amongst themselves. John (Askey) has done a good job since he’s gone in there.
“We have the best defensive record in the league in the last six games, which is a positive, and if we can continue to put that right we’ll give ourselves a real chance of winning games of football, collecting points and moving up the table, which is our aim.”
See much more from Paul Hurst and James Perch on iFollow Iron. Click here to sign-up.