Manager Paul Hurst has provided an update on injuries ahead of the home clash against Stevenage, while also previewing Saturday’s match.
Jordan Hallam faces a fortnight out after the Under-23 side’s 4-1 home win over Walsall on Tuesday.
Hurst told iFollow Iron: “He picked up a hamstring injury in the Under-23s game. It’s the third injury he’s had since he’s been here, and he’s struggled to get a run at anything to force his way into the side. He got a goal (in Tuesday’s match), took it well and was playing decently, but felt that (injury) late in the game. He’ll be out for a couple of weeks. Fingers crossed this time we can get him back and hopefully keep him fit.”
“George has been out on the grass at (parent club) Barnsley in a very light session and is still some way off making a return. We’ll speak to them again on Friday and see where he’s at,” added Hurst.
“We don’t think Kgosi will be too much longer. A week on Saturday might be a little bit too soon, but certainly we’d expect him to be available after that game if he’s not.”
Jordan Clarke has returned to training this week, after being out for over a month after having an appendix removed.
The boss said: “It’s not been easy because with a lot of injuries you can still do work in the gym and on the bike, whereas he’s had to have a complete rest, so we have to be conscious of that.
“He’s been chomping at the bit to get out there and running, and we had to hold him back a little bit. This week he’s been training, although he wouldn’t have played Tuesday because it was too soon really. We’re trying to get that balance of working him hard but not asking too much of him too soon.”
Scunthorpe come into this weekend’s match six games undefeated in all competitions at home, and Hurst is hoping to carry on that run with a third home victory in succession.
Looking ahead to the challenge Stevenage pose, Hurst continued: “The ultimate aim is to take three points but hopefully we can keep that run going, and make it three wins in a row at home. Stevenage are a little bit like ourselves in that I feel, from what I’ve seen and also been told by others, they’re in a false position. I don’t think they’ll be down there come the end of the season, but ultimately we both are at this current time, so it’s a big game from that point of view and we need to do all we can to get the three points.
“Playing Morecambe (last week) and then ourselves are two big games for them, but they got off to a good start with a hard-earned 1-0 victory last weekend. From what I saw, they deserved that, but coming away from home they’ve had struggles like we have, and we have to make sure that continues for them.
“In terms of ourselves, although we didn’t get the three points last weekend it was a game we picked something up from, on the back of our last victory here (against Exeter), and we want to keep it going.”
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