Neal Ardley says Jim O'Brien is not fit to start their clash at Dagenham on Saturday - but has not ruled out the midfielder from returning to the substitutes' bench.
The Scotsman made his long-awaited return from injury on Tuesday night when he played the first half of the 3-1 victory over AFC Mansfield in the Notts Senior Cup.
It was his first game back since suffering an eight-inch gash to his thigh in the FA Trophy clash against Chesterfield in December, an injury that required 45 stitches.
O'Brien is now pushing hard to be involved to face the Daggers on Saturday, but after returning from more than a month on the sidelines, Ardley says he will not be starting the game.
But he has not ruled out including the former Bradford player on the bench if he proves his fitness.
“All options are open,” Ardley said.
“It’s a decision around whether he is fit enough for the bench.
“He’s trained on Thursday and he got 45 minutes in the tank on Tuesday night so I’ll have a think.
“If I take him I have to be open to an ear bashing because he’ll be telling me he’s fit to start, but we know he’s not ready to.
“You have to be at the top of your game or you’ll get found out and it’s our job to make sure he’s at the level he needs to be or he’ll let the team down.”
