Cambridge United head coach Mark Bonner provides positive injury update ahead of Bristol Rovers clash

Cambridge United head coach Mark Bonner is hopeful that he will have George Williams and Ben Worman available for selection against Bristol Rovers this weekend.

Both players missed Monday’s 5-0 defeat at Sky Bet League One promotion contenders Sheffield Wednesday, with full-back Williams sidelined by illness while midfielder Worman nursed an ankle injury that he picked up in the 1-0 loss at Derby County late last month.

However, the duo could be in line to return for the visit of Joey Barton’s side on Saturday.

“We’ll see how (George Williams) is, he’ll be back in today. He’s been sick but we're hopeful that he could be (available),” said Bonner.

“We’ve got to check in on Ben Worman. He’s made a fairly good recovery since Derby on his ankle so we’ll see whether or not that allows him to get any time on the grass in the next 24 to 48 hours and whether he’s an option or not.

“The severity of our injuries this season has obviously been very big. Anything that is short term for us would be great.

“(Worman) is a little bit touch and go and we’ll have to see how it settles but the big drama of what the injury could have been has subsided.

“Hopefully we can get him into some sessions and a position where he can contribute at the weekend, but we probably won’t know that until the end of Friday’s session.”

Bonner has also revealed that some of the squad’s longer term absentees are making good progress in their recovery from injury.

Forward Fejiri Okenabirhie and left-back Brandon Haunstrup have returned to training and could be back in action before the end of the month.

“Fejiri and Brandon aren’t too far away at the moment, they’re really stepping up the rehab,” he added. “There’s a little bit of a light at the end of the tunnel with those.

“We’d hope so (to see them play before the end of the month). You don’t want to put too many timelines on it because the longer you’re out, the more you can have setbacks.

“We’ll see part of them in our training session today so that’s good and we hope that we can start to see them as the month goes on.

“That will change the picture a little bit and as we add to the squad as well we’ll hopefully get to a full bill of health before too long.”

Meanwhile, Dimitar Mitov is back working through some light sessions with goalkeeper coach Martin Davies, but he is unlikely to be available until February at the earliest.

The Bulgarian has not featured for the U’s since suffering an ankle injury in mid-October.

As for midfielder Liam O’Neil, his ankle complaint is unlikely to see him return this month.

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