Kovacs and Beckwith in the reckoning for Lincoln as Spiller travels too

Defenders Janos Kovacs and Dean Beckwith are back in the mix for Saturday’s trip to struggling Lincoln - while recovering midfielder Danny Spiller may also travel with the squad after finally joining in a warm-up session with his team-mates, writes Mark Wood.

Speaking at this afternoon’s press conference, Town boss Paul Buckle revealed both defenders have a chance to be involved, but admitted Beckwith is still struggling with a groin injury.

He said: “Dean’s got a groin. Struggling a little bit with that, he’s tried to come back in but it’s not quite worked out, it’s still a bit sore, so there will be no risk where that’s concerned.

“I think Janos was just a rest mentally. I had a long chat with the lad before we went up to Tamworth and won.

“And he agreed that he maybe needed a rest and we’ve done that. He’s looked better in training, and he’ll be in the squad this week.”

Kovacs is sure to be keen to be involved at Sincil Bank against one of his former clubs, but after a decent showing from on-loan centre-halves Connor Essam and Simon Ainge in Saturday’s 3-1 home win over Southport, Buckle looks likely to go with the same pairing.

On Essam, who has just extended his loan spell from Gillingham by another month, Buckle continued: “Him and Ainge formed a good partnership. It’s important with the other two missing at the moment.

“I’m delighted with them both individually and collectively as a partnership they’ve done very well.

“And then you’ve got hopefully Dean Beckwith will be back fit. We’ve got Janos and obviously we’ve got young (Alex) Lacey now who is fighting fit.”

On why he had preferred that duo against the Sandgrounders, the Town boss said: “I think it’s a mixture. Hand on my heart, I said to you guys before that we weren’t keeping clean sheets and we needed to win those balls that were coming up and especially the balls into our box.

“And I think Ainge and Connor have both enhanced our chances now of clearing balls away, not only clearing them but clearing them a distance and they showed that in the two games.”

He was also impressed with how Ainge has settled so quickly following his loan move from Blue Square Bet North Guiseley AFC.

Buckle said: “He looked like he had been with us for years. He’s a great lad in terms of coming in and not taking days and weeks to fit in with the group.

“He’s come straight in and he believes he should be here and I think that’s key with players. He actually believes he should be playing this level, and he’s taken his chance as well.

“He’s come in and he’s been a massive plus along with Connor and I think the bar’s been raised. I think they’ve show us what we want.

“We want real strength and aggression at centre-half because the league really does throw a big question to you every week where that’s concerned.”

Marquee summer signing Jon Shaw also looks like he will have to settle for a place on the bench after Luton’s fine second half showing against Southport at the weekend.

Fellow target man Scott Rendell netted twice and is likely to keep his place up top, with the Town chief saying: “Without giving the team away, you look for consistency in individuals and in the team, and I think certainly the last game we’re very pleased with the second half performance.

“Do you change or do you go with the momentum we’ve picked up from that game?

“We’ll decide that and we won’t give too much away between now and Saturday and we’ll pick the team and subs which we think is right to go and try and win the game.”

On Rendell, he continued: “I’m always careful not to single people out. We all know it’s a team sport and everybody is pulling their weight at the moment.

“That’s why we’re winning games. Everybody is putting in a real good work ethic in training and are taking it in to games.

“Even when people are coming off the bench they are doing the business.

“Scott is one of many who are at it at the moment, but he knows by his standards that he needs to stay there because we have real competition up front.

“I’m delighted with all of them and there’s big competition for places at the moment.”

On-loan striker Jake Robinson is also likely to have to bide his time despite being midway through his loan deal.

Buckle said: “I think he’s got a little while yet Jake. He’s another one who hadn’t had a lot of football before he came to us.

“Sometimes when you take a player in, like we did with Connor, they need to bed in a little bit.

“Some go straight in and play, like with Ainge.

“Circumstances dictate and at the moment I think (JJ) O’Donnell has done quite well when he’s played out there.

“Jake is champing at the bit, he’s a smashing lad to work with, he’s no problem, he’s low maintenance and I’ve worked with him before and he will get his chance.”

Meanwhile, long-term injury concern Spiller could also travel with the squad, as Buckle said: “We have no other injuries at the moment, we are pleased to see Spiller joined in with us for the warm-up this morning so that’s huge plus for us Danny Spiller.

“You forget what a big signing for us. Him and (Garry) Richards were big signings and we really could do with having him back.

“We were delighted he joined in the warm-up this morning, although he is still a couple of weeks away.

“We are OK and the players are certainly ticking a lot of boxes at the moment with everything. They are a pleasure to work with the group at the moment.”