Winfield maybe in contention for place on bench
Graham Turner insists he will adopt a cautious approach to Dave Winfield's return to action after the big defender began his comeback for the reserves earlier this week.
The central defender, signed from Wycombe Wanderers in the summer, had the misfortune to suffer a hamstring injury just a few days before the League One opener against MK Dons last month.
He came through a planned half-hour run out for the reserves against Oldham on Tuesday and the manager says there is a chance he will be included among the subs at Crawley on Saturday.
But he stressed it was important to ease him back into action to prevent the prospect of running into further problems.
"Dave had half an hour at the start of the game for the reserves against Oldham on Tuesday and he came through it okay," said GT.
"I think we are being ultra cautious with him because what we don't want is a recurrence of the injury.
"There's a possibility he will be on the bench on Saturday but the caution, the footnote from the medical people is 'don't think about putting him on in the first half' because the fatigue that will come about towards the end of the game could increase the chances of a recurrence of his hamstring problem.
"It is about managing the injury still.
"If we need him in the second half, if we need him in the last 15 minutes to go and have a physical presence out there, then we can use him.
"I can understand the need for caution with him. He's got himself fit far quicker than expected. I think the forecast was about for 10 weeks and it's just over six weeks, so we've just got to be careful.
"We'll give him every opportunity to come back into the side and stay in the side free from injury."