Paul Carden has team selection problems ahead of this evening's match at Ebbsfleet United.
In charge of first team affairs while the Board goes through the process of appointing a manager, player-assistant manager Carden will again be assisted from the dugout by Director of Youth Football Jez George.
Team News
Lee Phillips (knee), Anthony Tonkin (groin), Ben Farrell (ankle) and Danny Crow (groin) missed Saturday's season opener against Barrow and the first three are still sidelined although they are making good progress.
Crow trained on Monday but felt some discomfort afterwards and may not be risked, while Courtney Pitt is also doubtful with a slight thigh strain.
"This game has probably come too soon for Ben Farrell and Anthony Tonkin, and possibly Saturday too for Ben," Carden told cambridgeunited.com. "Anthony Tonkin has stepped up his training and started kicking a ball so hopefully by the end of the week he'll be joining in our sessions.
"Danny Crow trained yesterday but had discomfort again afterwards, and Courtney got a slight strain on his thigh so we'll have to assess both of them today and see how they are, but Courtney was struggling after training yesterday.
"Lee Phillips is still some way off but he's ahead of schedule and progressing well."
Looking ahead to the game, Carden feels there were positives to take from Saturday's 2-0 defeat at home to Barrow, but also areas for improvement.
"We played a lot of good football but we were restricted to shots from outside the box. We had a lot of good approach play and we've worked on a few things in training with the players - like movement of strikers, delivery of early balls - and hopefully it will come to fruition tonight."
The Opposition
United had two tough games against Ebbsfleet last season; the 1-1 draw there in September when Lee McEvilly's sixth goal of the season gave the U's a half-time lead, only to have it cancelled out seven minutes in to the second half, and the 1-0 home win in November when the first goal of Scott Rendell's second spell with United settled a hard fought game.
"It's always a tough game against Ebbsfleet and it's a tough place to go," commented Carden. "They have a lot of new players in the squad so they'll all be keen to impress the manager, and obviously Liam Daish is coming up against his old club.
"There's a little bit gone on in the last few weeks between Liam Daish and Cambridge United so he'll be making sure his lads are up for this game. But I think what's gone on is in the past and Liam is professional enough to know he has a job to do at Ebbsfleet, and he'll be concentrating on trying to get three points for them.
"He's got a lot of new faces and he'll want them to gel as soon as possible, and we're hoping they won't gel in time for tonight's game!
"It's usually nice to have another game on the Tuesday when you've lost on the Saturday, but unfortunately this time it doesn't give us enough time to get some of our big players fit. The way the squad is at the moment, it's down to the bare bones but we've got good youngsters who are keen to impress and do well and that's a good sign for us.
"We're all sticking together and the lads who are coming in are playing a part and doing really well."
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