Cambridge United in promising shape for Leyton Orient clash

U's ready to host bottom club

Shaun Derry will continue to wrap his Cambridge United squad in cotton wool for the remaining six games of the Sky Bet League Two season.

Piero Mingoia remains on the sidelines with a groin injury, and James Dunne and Scott Wharton will have to be assessed in training before Derry names his squad for the visit of bottom club Leyton Orient to the Cambs Glass Stadium this Saturday.

And a number of other players will continue to be managed back to full fitness, such as Barry Corr and Medy Elito.

“It looks as though we will be missing Piero for the weekend again. He is always a loss to us,” said Derry.

“I think he has been a real positive for us this year, and when we lose him not just out of the starting XI but out of the travelling party and being in and around the lads, that’s a disappointment for everybody.

“James Dunne is just about making his return to training so whether this weekend comes too soon for him, I will have to judge that.

“We’ve just had to wrap certain people in cotton wool throughout the week and see where they are come Friday. I don’t think that’s going to change between now and the end of the season, the way that we manage players.

“But if we can roll them out on a Saturday and they can produce performances like they did last weekend then I’ll swallow them not being available Monday to Friday.”

And there was good news for Derry after Paul Lewis’ red card in the win over Crewe Alexandra was rescinded by the FA.

“I’m really pleased with that because for Paul to go and miss three games for that type of tackle would have been awful for him,” said the U’s boss.

“He is a new player into the group, just finding his feet and to go and miss three games on the back of what I didn’t even feel was a yellow card, never mind a red – it was just a strong tackle – would be harsh.

“Thankfully it didn’t have that effect on us that we were having to defend with 10 men for a large amount of the game.

“Everyone is happy. Paul is happy, we’re happy as a club and I’m pleased that the authorities have deemed it not a red card.”