Manager Stephen Robinson is hoping that striker Cole Stockton and midfielder Alfie McCalmont will be back in the Matchday squad against Doncaster Rovers on Sunday.
The pair were absent from Wednesday night’s fixture against Crewe Alexandra in Sky Bet League One last time out and Robinson says the team certainly missed the two players and the quality they possess.
“Cole will hopefully join in training on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, so contrary to reports, he is not going anywhere,” he said.
“We are hoping that he is fit and available for Sunday, you have seen without him that we struggle to get hold of the ball.
“We are quite confident that we will have him and Alfie McCalmont fit again, hopefully we can get Shane McLoughlin in his right position, if we can get players into midfield because we miss his drive and energy back in the middle.”
Despite ending up on the wrong side of the scoreline against the Railwaymen, the home support at the Mazuma Stadium stuck with the side until the final whistle, something the gaffer has acknowledged.
“I have to compliment the fans, they got behind the team for 90 minutes on Wednesday night and they expressed their views after the game, which is the right thing to do,” he added.
“I live in the real world and I’m a very down-to-earth person who understands that people want to see passion and desire, you see me in the dugout and I try and do that as much as I can.
“So I agree with them to a certain extent, but with some of the younger players it is about fear rather not trying, and I think we saw some players playing with fear.”