Cambridge United attacking midfielder Taylor Richards close to return after injury problems since joining on loan from Queens Park Rangers

Head coach Garry Monk is hopeful that Taylor Richards will be ready to feature for Cambridge United at some point over the festive period.

The attacking midfielder’s United career has not really got going since he joined the club on a season-long loan deal from Queens Park Rangers during the summer.

He featured as a substitute in Cambridge’s opening two league games of the season, but those remain his only appearances to date owing to the recurrence of a previous injury.

However, having returned to full training over the past couple of weeks, Monk has suggested that the 24-year-old could be set for some minutes during a hectic period that includes games against Huddersfield Town, Charlton Athletic, Leyton Orient, Reading and Bristol Rovers up until 4 January.

“He’s been back training for a full week this week,” said Monk. “It will just be a case of him building up his fitness and being available for selection.

“It’s the first time (in a while) I’ve been able to say this, but we’re lucky to have healthier numbers in the squad so there’s no rush with any of the (injured) guys because some of them are still building up fitness, but it shouldn’t be long before he’s up for selection.

“It’s well documented over his career so far the talent that he has and there’s other things he needs to put into his game to help him and help us.

“But like any of them, they’re coming back into a squad that’s healthier and a squad that is performing quite well. The job is to fight for your place and fight for your fitness.

“They’ve got all the help in the world here to try to help them do that and then we’ll see what it looks like going forward.”

After starting out in the youth ranks at Fulham and Manchester City, former England youth international Richards joined Brighton & Hove Albion in July 2019 for a reported £2.5m fee.

He made two Premier League appearances for the Seagulls before switching to QPR on a permanent basis in 2023.