The revolving door to the Luton Town treatment table has not stopped turning all season and, in terms of the problem, Gary Brabin has had to perform such a juggling act that it wouldn’t have been a surprise if Billy Smart’s Circus had been on the phone on transfer deadline day.
This week has been no different as the Hatters welcomed defenders Shane Blackett and Dean Beckwith back into the fold, while wide man Charlie Henry continued his lengthy rehabilitation in the 2-1 FA Trophy third round victory over Kidderminster Harriers.
And while yesterday’s postponement of the trip to Forest Green Rovers denied the centre halves a chance to turn out again for the Hatters - Henry hasn’t trained since Tuesday - it has given another band of crocked stars a chance to further their recovery.
Brabin said: “We’ve got them (Blackett, Beckwith and Henry) but we’ve also lost Amari Morgan- Smith again, Dan Gleeson, James Dance and Keith Keane.
“It has been frustrating in terms of injuries this year. We are coping with it quite well, but it’s always a boost when you get your players back.”
Danny Crow, Craig McAllister and Aaron O’Connor all returned to training this week after missing the match at Aggborough, while talismanic midfielder Keane (hamstring) is expected to return in a week.
But the prognosis isn’t quite as promising for winger Dance (ankle), top scorer Morgan-Smith (hamstring) and right back Dan Gleeson, who has suffered a recurrence of the foot injury which kept him out at the start of the campaign.
And then there is left back Freddie Murray who isn’t expected to return this term.
Brabin continued: “I don’t want to be too personal on the injury front but they are serious.
“Amari’s is one that he’s had problems with. [After] the last bit of treatment he had, we are hopeful that he’ll be back training in the next three weeks.”
He added: “It is hard when you miss your big players but you can’t rely too much on one or two players.
It’s important you’ve got a good squad.
“Fortunately enough I think we have and we’ve just got to keep pushing on and getting maximum points.”
He’ll need all the reinforcements he can get as yesterday’s enforced day off will further fill up the calendar which is already busy due to Town’s march into the quarter finals of the FA Trophy, where they will face either Gateshead or Alfreton at home on February 25.
It’s the second successive weekend that freezing conditions have left a blank in the schedule and that comes with other difficulties.
Brabin said: “The hardest problem is just preparing in terms of training.
“We’ve been on the third generation [pitch] at Dunstable and that’s been a big help but that’s not ideal either with the ice.
“It’s frustrating. It is what it is and we can’t do anything about it.”
He added: “We are chomping at the bit to play games now. We are in that period where they come thick and fast and people will be saying, ‘would you be glad of a rest?’ “That’s why it’s important that we’ve got a good squad of players.
They’ve all got to be in contention and we’ve got to get them all fit and up to speed. I’m sure they’ve all got a big part to play.”
