CHELTENHAM Town are facing a defensive shortage ahead of tomorrow's vital Coca-Cola League Two trip to Morecambe.

Centre-back Michael Townsend is unlikely to play having sustained a calf injury during the first half of last week's 1-1 draw at Lincoln City.

With club captain Shane Duff ruled out until next March as he makes the long recovery from Achilles surgery, Drissa Diallo is the Robins' only fit specialist central defender.

Andy Gallinagh, who has spent most of this season in the centre of midfield, replaced Townsend at Sincil Bank and is set to partner Diallo tomorrow.

Left-back Lee Ridley can also operate at centre-half, but numbers are thin, with only 15 professionals available to acting manager John Schofield.

Cheltenham have gone 10 matches without a win or a clean sheet.

That run, which dates back to mid-September, has seen them slide to 21st in the table, but Schofield has lifted spirits since taking over from suspended boss Martin Allen, who remains on 'gardening leave'.

Schofield will oversee his fifth match at the helm tomorrow and he is confident his team is making enough progress to suggest an improvement in results is around the corner.

"I'd say three and a half of my matches in charge have been encouraging," Schofield said.

"Even against Crewe (4-0 defeat) we had four or five chances before they scored, but we didn't do ourselves any favours after we conceded the second goal.

"We need to learn from everything, but we have seen a couple of performances that have warranted the word 'performance' since then."

"I have learned never to set yourself up for a fall and we are doing okay, but no better than that."

Meanwhile, Reading youngster Ollie Bozanic will not now be returning to complete his six-month loan with the Robins.

The Australian Under-19 international, who was also called up to the full Socceroos squad for a friendly against the Republic of Ireland at the start of the season, began the current campaign with Cheltenham and made four first team appearances.

He picked up a knee injury during the home match against Bradford City and returned to Reading for treatment and rehab with a view to returning to Cheltenham Town once fit.

However, both clubs and Bozanic himself have now agreed that he will stay at Reading in order to complete a full recovery from the injury so the loan agreement, that was due to run until January, has now been cancelled.

"Oliver did very well for us while he was here and I'd like to thank both him and Reading," said Schofield.

"I hope he is back to full match fitness before much longer and we wish him all the best for the future."

Another loan winger, Ben Marshall, will make his second start for Cheltenham at Christie Park tomorrow.