Cup-tied trio come into the mix for Bath visit

Both will come into contention for today’s visit of Bath City, along with combative midfielder Godfrey Poku, after all three were cup-tied for Saturday’s 2-0 FA Trophy defeat of Gateshead.

Brabin said: “It’s been tough for the pair of them as they haven’t really been able to get going. I was joking about it with Boucs that between him being cup-tied and the ruling with the York thing and playing York 12 times this month hasn’t helped...

“It’s been a bit stop-start for them at the moment so I thought it was important that they went and played a bit of football (in the 3-3 reserve draw at Oxford United on Wednesday night).

“It’s an extension of what we’re doing in training and they are certainly working hard day in, day out. They are a bit frustrated they are not playing week in, week out, but at the moment as I keep saying that’s out of our hands and it’s only healthy we’ve got a good group of players who are putting in more competition.”

And although McAllister is yet to score a goal this season, Brabin declared their was no pressure on the target man.

He said: “I think it’s important we don’t put too much pressure on him to do that. He’s only started two games for us and people are judging him on what he’s done previously.

“At the time I think he’s gone there (Newport) with a big expectancy and a team that were struggling at the time and that’s always tough.

“But he’s come here and he gives us a different dimension and he’s certainly been a big asset in and around the place and we are not putting any pressure on him at the moment to score goals.

“Obviously we want all of our strikers scoring goals, but I think it would be a bit too harsh to judge him after only two starts.”

Brabin also confirmed that Poku was pressing for a place after scoring a wonder goal in Town’s reserves’ 3-3 midweek draw against Oxford.

The Town boss added: “He’s cost us a fortune in balls this season because most of the normally go over the stands! It’s nice for one of them to actually go in!

“Godfrey, again, I think he’s starting to show what we know he is capable of.

“Certainly in and around the place, the last week or so, and I think that shows in his performance.

“We sent him on loan to Southport, and I think it’s been a fantastic experience for him, so much so that Southport they’ve loved having him.

“It’s been well-documented they would love to have him back but he is certainly one that we’ve looked for, for the future, he’s developing the way we want him to develop.

“He’s come back here and probably been a bit frustrated now, which is a change in attitude if you like because Godfrey’s been in and around the place now for a couple of years and never really expected to play.

“He’s gone, played football, done well and now he wants to play. We’ve had a few chats with him and told him he’s got to starting knuckling it down now, stepping it up and show us what he can do day in, day out.

“And he’s certainly done that and his performance midweek in the reserve game epitomised what he is capable of. If he can do more of that he will certainly be getting more chances in the first team.”