Midfielder Jordan Stevens will feature in tomorrow’s home match with Chelmsford City, according to manager Mark Cooper.
Speaking in his regular pre-match press conference on Thursday, the boss said the 23-year-old was “desperate to be unleashed” having missed the start of the National League South season through an injury picked up in pre-season.
The former Forest Green Rovers and Barrow player has been featured in training pictures throughout the week suggesting he was in contention to feature against second-placed Chelmsford, the only side in the division yet to lose this season.
Cooper said: “He is ready. He is desperate to be unleashed and he will feature at some point tomorrow. He has trained really hard in the last month to get himself back in shape and he is looking strong and electrically quick and will give us pace in that wide area.”
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.
He also spoke of his disappointment at losing young striker Olly Thomas who was recalled by his parent club Bristol City on Wednesday and is expected to join League Two Newport County on loan today.
The 18-year-old, who had featured in all the Glovers’ matches so far this season, is expected to go in to the starting line-up for the South Wales side who lost another former Yeovil loanee, Seb Palmer-Houlden, to injury.
Cooper said: “It is a shame because Olly has done fantastically well for us. The only problem was he played really well against Newport in pre-season and they have obviously remembered that and they have got an injury.
“Bristol City have a call back on him after 28 days and he gets to go and play in League Two tomorrow, so good luck to him. He is a good kid and I am sure he is going to have a good career, we were lucky to have him for the time we did and we thank Bristol City for letting us have him.”
The manager admitted that the start of the week had been “a dark, dark place” after his side lost to an injury time winner at Havant & Waterlooville in a rollercoaster 4-3 match on Bank Holiday Monday.
Speaking after the match, he described their performance (rather kindly) as “horrendous” and admitted that there needed to be a major improvement from his players.
Cooper said: “The biggest thing was the (lack of) intensity and intent, we just did not turn up. That has showed them that if you just turn up and expect you win, you are going to get a slap around the face because all these teams have threat. It has shown there are no gimmes, we have to turn up and fight in every game.”
“We have been strong at home, won three and drawn one, we enjoy playing at home. It is our back yard, we want the ball and we want to dominate and we know it is going to be a tough game. They will want to attack but we are ready and I am sure whatever team we put out there will be one that will fight and score some goals.
“It is important that they understand we need to be together in it and the louder they cheer the better we become, the louder they boo the worse we become. No negativity, I know that is difficult at times, but it is impossible to play well all the time. No team plays well for 90 minutes and it’s in those spells that you need the help.”
The press conference took place ahead of the signing of experienced goalkeeper Joe Day on a season-long loan from Newport County this afternoon, so there was no questions