Cambridge United defender Mamadou Jobe ‘really close’ to becoming a regular option after completing 90 minutes at Bristol Rovers in the Carabao Cup

Head coach Neil Harris has revealed that Mamadou Jobe is ‘really close’ to being considered a regular option again for Cambridge United – and he could even start this weekend’s League Two clash against Harrogate Town.

Harris and United’s medical staff have managed the 22-year-old carefully throughout the summer as he reached the latter stages of his recovery from an anterior cruciate knee ligament injury.

It has been a long road of rehabilitation for the centre-back, but Jobe was a welcome inclusion in the starting line-up on Tuesday evening as the U’s won 2-0 at Bristol Rovers in the Carabao Cup.

And for a player making his first start in 16 months, Harris was highly enthused by what he saw across the 90 minutes.

“He’s really close (to being able to start regularly). Saturday? Possibly, yes he could possibly and he'll come into my mind for that one,” said Harris.

“But moving forward, we saw a really assured performance – a fit performance as well, first and foremost, from a player with a determination for a clean sheet.

“I thought he was excellent. I was really, really impressed with what I saw. There was different aspects of his game, but his desire and game understanding was immense.

“James Gibbons as well with his leadership qualities. Those are all the big things I was talking about that were lacking after the game on Saturday. Players like that – putting in those performances – have done themselves a world of good.”