Cheltenham Town: Bennett ruled out of next two games
SKIPPER Alan Bennett has been ruled out of Cheltenham Town's forthcoming double header of home matches against Southend and Oxford United.
The central defender's injury-hit start to the new season continued last week when he picked up a calf injury in training, shortly after recovering from a back strain.
He is yet to start a League Two match for the Robins this term, having been available for every match last term.
Former Reading, Southampton and Brentford centre-half Bennett is one of the fittest players in the squad, and senior sports therapist Ian Weston said he is not concerned by the 30-year-old's current run of bad fortune.
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But he will not be considered for Saturday's match against Southend, or next Tuesday's visit of Oxford.
"Alan is doing well and is back to jogging now, so he's nearly there, but Saturday will be too soon for him," Weston said.
"We don't need to push him because we have Keith Lowe and Harry Hooman, who have done well in there and Alan should be back in contention for York away a week on Saturday."
Bennett spent yesterday working at the Personal Training Studio in Cheltenham, using the 'alter-g' running machine which reduces body weight to lessen the stress through the joints.
The Republic of Ireland international played more than 50 matches during his first campaign at Whaddon Road and Weston is confident he can rack up another impressive haul of games once he is over his current problem.
"Alan was virtually ever-present last year and that is a big ask for any player and he hadn't played that many games in a season before," Weston said.
"Alan's overall fitness is very good and he conditions himself very well.
"We will be cautious with him, but the back and shoulder injury he had didn't cause him to miss much training and this calf strain is the first niggle he's had in that area so we are not overly concerned."
Bennett partnered Hooman in the Capital One Cup first round match against MK Dons, but was forced off with cramp in a hamstring as the tie entered extra-time.
Steve Elliott then returned from illness to start alongside Hooman for the opening four League Two matches before Lowe was preferred to youngster Hooman at Wycombe Wanderers in last Saturday's 1-1 draw.
â Left-back Danny Andrew has joined Blue Square Bet Premier club Cambridge United on a month's loan.
The former Peterborough United man was made available on a free transfer at the end of last season.
â Cheltenham Town's Johnstone's Paint Trophy tie against Oxford United will be played on Tuesday, October 9 (7.45pm)
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