Summer signing James Daly and long-term absentee midfielder Jacob Maddox are both back in light training, according to Yeovil Town manager Richard Dryden.
Winger Daly has not featured since picking up an injury in the second game of the season whilst Maddox has been missing since February following an operation on a foot injury in the summer.
The Glovers take on fifth-placed Boreham Wood, who have had an impressive return to the National League Premier Division this season, at Huish Park on Saturday looking to extend a run of three back-to-back victories.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah on Thursday, Dryden said: “Jacob Maddox and James Daly are both back in light training doing jogging and running, they have not kicked a ball yet, but they are getting there. They are the two big (injuries) so we will have the same sort of squad for Saturday.
“It is hard to gauge when they will be available. Jacob has obviously been out for longer than James, they both look naturally fit, but being naturally fit and football fit are totally different things. We will take the medical department’s advice on that and ease them in.”
Midfielder Charlie Cooper is the other absentee having been missing since the 2-1 home win over Brackley Town in August with an Achilles tendon injury. Asked about his fitness, the manager added: “He is getting there, but as I said before Danny (Webb) came in, (Charlie) has got to be 100% to play. If he comes in at 90% he will drop back to 60%, so he has got to get around that.”
A 2-1 win at Sutton United on Tuesday night saw Yeovil extend their winning run to three games and Dryden has been pleased with his players’ determination since being handed the manager’s job until the end of the season following the shock exit of Danny Webb.
He said: “I have been most proud of our resilience over the last three games, the desire to stop the ball going in to our net, that has been a big thing. I know we conceded at Sutton on Tuesday, but before that our players were throwing themselves in front of the ball blocking shots and it was a great finish from (Sutton’s Charlie Bell) there is no deny that. But our determination and resilience to win games makes me proud of this team.”
That victory followed a comfortable 4-1 victory at Aldershot Town and a hard-fought 1-0 win over Altrincham in the last outing at Huish Park last weekend. Dryden added: “They have all been different wins, we dominated the majority of the game (at Aldershot), had to dig in (against Altrincham) at home and I thought it was quite a complete performance (at Sutton) when we had to defend really well.
“You are looking behind you (at the substitutes) when the lads are getting tired and we have got a good bench and bringing those fresh legs on when we did really helped, you definitely saw that especially in the last 20 minutes of the game when Harvey (Greenslade) and Ben (Wodskou) came on at the top of the pitch. They had to press, run with the ball, so it helps when you have a good bench as well.”
Striker Aaron Jarvis picked up his first goal of the season at Sutton having scored the 81st minute penalty which gave Yeovil the three points. It is the bearded frontman’s first goal since scoring in the 1-1 draw with Woking back in January.
Dryden was asked whether it was a relief to see Jarvis score, he replied: “I would not say a relief because when he is on the pitch, especially in the last three games, he has made a massive impact although he has not scored. I always go on about how Olivier Giroud won the World Cup with France without scoring a goal! (Jarvis) does other stuff as well, but he will be happy he has got his goal.”
Dryden has named the same starting XI for all three of the matches since he took over and admitted he has had to manage the amount his small squad has been asked to do in matches and training.
He said: “A lot if it is about squad management, we have done a little trip to the swimming pool, a little walk in it, but we all want to get back on the grass because the atmosphere is good. We will not be doing a lot but we need to work out our shape defensively and in attacking positions and from set plays with a bit of other stuff on Friday.”
Boreham Wood, who were promoted via the National League South play-off last season, are unbeaten since the opening day of the season and will offer a tough test for Yeovil’s impressive recent form. Visiting manager Luke Garrard returned to the helm at Meadow Park in September having quit the previous May following relegation to National League South and appears to be working his magic again.
Dryden said: “Luke has come back and got them going, he is Mr Boreham Wood. We have looked at how they are playing and we are working out a way how to hurt them and how to defend against them.
“They keep the ball really well and try to suck you in to play through you and they have got a far bit of pace in certain areas as well. They are 12 games in now and the table is starting to take shape and they are in the play-off positions and the table does not lie after 12 games. From what I have been watching on the Wyscout (scouting tool) today, they can definitely be there for the rest of the season.“