Harrold's knee must be managed but should make Wycombe opener

The head coach expects the striker to be fit for Saturday’s League Two clash with Wycombe despite him missing the Aldershot Town friendly.

Harrold, who underwent an knee operation at the end of last season, was named on the bench for Reds’ final friendly, but remained in his tracksuit for the whole game and didn’t feature in the warm-up.

He has featured just twice in pre-season - against Millwall and Lewes - and Drummy is keen for the club to monitor and manage the troublesome knee.

He said: “Matt had a reaction. I was really pleased with him at Lewes and I think sometimes when people are training they can compensate for an injury.

“But I thought he was flat out and that’s why I like him so much.

“Sometimes with knees, they have a little flare-up and the medical team are explaining to him now that it happens and he has to get a bit of fluid off his knee and then recover.

“We have got to manage his workload and Matt won’t always train fully with us, sometimes we will have to say ‘you need a rest day today’, because he needs to look after his knees.”

On whether the tall goal-getter will make the season opener at the Checkatrade Stadium, Drummy said: “I should think he will be alright. Sometimes when they have an op, it goes like that. There is a little bit of swelling, they ice it and have to get going again.

“When they put a full load on it, then you maybe get a bit of fluid or reaction. The doctors assure me it is a situation that is normal.”

Attacking duo Jordan Roberts and Jason Banton were also missing on Saturday, but both were mainly left out as precautions.

Drummy added: “Jordan has tonsillitis, he came in Friday and we sent him home, because if you’re not well there is no point risking him - even though he wanted to play against Aldershot.

“Jason felt a little (in his) groin at Millwall and I pulled him out, he could have played against Aldershot, but I don’t want him to effect his groin for the Wycombe game.”

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