McKenna says his squad remains “pretty stretched” due to illness and injury but…

Town manager Kieran McKenna says his team is “pretty stretched” due to illness and injuries, but everyone except long-term absentees George Hirst, Wes Burns, and Janoi Donacien exercised today.

Hirst is recovering from hamstring surgery, Burns from a comparable but less serious ailment that did not require surgery, and Donacien is dealing with a troublesome adductor issue.

“There’s still quite a few, we’re pretty stretched, I’d say,” McKenna remarked when asked if the illness and injury situation had improved. “Several players are making themselves available.

“The availability is still quite high; I believe there are just George, Janoi, and Wes on the long-term injury list; everyone else was training today.

“But there’s still some physical issues, medical and injuries around the camp, but the players are putting in a really good physical effort and making themselves available and I’m sure we’ll see a really energetic performance tomorrow night.”

Hirst and Burns have been penciled in for late-season returns, and when asked when that may be, McKenna responded: “The last three games are in less than seven days. They will be unavailable for the next two games; beyond that, nothing is guaranteed, but nothing is impossible. They are both currently working on the grass, and we will continue to observe them.

“We have a two-week break after the Middlesbrough game and I’m sure we’ll have a much better guide then on how they’re doing and which games they might be available for.”

Regarding Burns’ injury, which the Wales international suffered in the 6-0 thrashing of Sheffield Wednesday, he continued: “It was a hamstring strain; I won’t go into the grades and letters that come with these things, but it was a pretty, serious isn’t the right word, but it was a proper hamstring pull.”

“However, as I previously stated, no surgery was required, and he is healing well. The later scans looked improved. He still has a long way to go, but he is making good progress.

McKenna stated that on-loan AFC Bournemouth forward Kieffer Moore was well following Saturday’s game, despite being doubtful due to a back injury suffered against Southampton.

“He came through OK, I think he feels a bit better for it, from the injury he picked up on Monday,” that’s what he stated.

“But he felt prepared to play on Saturday, and he reported no problems afterwards. He’s done a few less minutes in the last three games, Blackburn, Southampton coming off early and coming off a bit earlier versus Norwich, so he feels a bit better, a bit fresher going into this one.”