Ashley Carew, who missed the last game of the season away to Rotherham United with a thigh strain, has been reporting for treatment at Underhill over the last fortnight in a lonely bid to regain fitness.

The 22-year-old, who played at right back in the latter stages of the League 2 campaign, was back to running on Tuesday, his progress being watched over by Mark Stein.

Skipper Ismail Yakubu, who was stood down for the last eight games of the season because of persistent groin problems, has received injections and is now on holiday.

Dennis Signy