AS things stand I would say Daniel Bentley is 50/50 for our match at Stevenage this weekend.

He was forced to miss the game against Accrington last Saturday with a groin injury and we were quite concerned about it at the time because of the areas he was reporting some pain.

We were worried he was going to be out of action for at least a month so we sent him to see a specialist and have a scan done.

We’ve got the results of that back now and thankfully it’s just a grade one tear which is the least serious it can be.

We will continue to monitor him and treat him throughout the week and there’s always the option of him playing but somebody else takes the goal-kicks.

He can keep goal no problem at all but it’s the kicking motion when the ball is on the floor which carries the risk because we obviously don’t want him to tear the muscle.

It’s a decision which will be made later on in the week but in his absence, against Accrington, it was great for Ted Smith to come in to the team.

As a manager it’s a really nice feeling to hand a youngster his debut.

I still remember mine for Hartlepool United against Peterborough United back in 1979 like it was yesterday.

It’s a big moment for any player and certainly for Ted who I’m sure has a bright future in the game.

SHAME FOR LEE BARNARD TO BE INJURED

IT’S a real shame Lee Barnard suffered a neck injury in training earlier on this week because I would’ve had no hesitation in throwing him in at Stevenage.

I think it could have given us that bit of spikiness with Barney going up against the team he had a loan spell with earlier on in the season.

But the injury, which also meant he missed the friendly at Canvey, has not really done much for his chances.

Despite that Barney still has still had a key part to play this week.

I’ve been asking him all about Stevenage and he’s been filling me in with their training regimes and how hard they work.

Set pieces are very important for them and we need to be aware of that.

Speaking of Barney, we had York City get in touch about the possibility of signing him on loan.

But since then they seem to have cooled their interest.

RAISING MONEY FOR TRACY

WE were all very saddened to read about Tracy Ralph in the Echo and, as a group, we wanted to try and make some money for her.

Tracy had to have her fingers and her lower legs amputated after getting pneumonia around Christmas time and it’s amazing how much has already been raised.

We wanted to play our part too and, teaming up with the Shrimpers Trust, we came up with the idea of being waxed.

John White, Ben Coker, Kevan Hurst, Mads Ibenfeldt, Luke Prosser, kit-man Ian Pettey and myself have all been put forward and whoever raises the most money will have to be waxed.

For more details on how to donate www.shrimperstrust.co.uk

CRAZY WORLD OF FOOTBALL MANAGEMENT STRIKES AGAIN

IT’S been another crazy week in the world of football with the announcement that Mark Warburton will be leaving Brentford at the end of the season.

I’m not really too sure what’s gone on there and I haven’t had the chance to speak to Mark yet but it does seem very strange after the brilliant job he’s done there.

I think we’re now heading towards the foreign kind of mentality when managers get two years at a job before moving on.

I think they work that better on the continent when managers are already thinking of their next job when they are still in employment.

We don’t do that over there but there have also been plenty of rumours about Sam Allardyce since West Ham’s 4-0 defeat to West Bromwich Albion in the FA Cup at the weekend.

Despite him being relatively successful there it wouldn’t surprise me if Sam was to leave and get another job in the Premier League.

It also wouldn’t surprise me if West Ham were to go into demise if he was to go and I think Hammers fans might have to be careful what they wish for.