Roy McFarland faces a defensive injury problem ahead of Saturday's vital League game at the Abbey against fellow strugglers Chesterfield. Right back Jason Kavanagh serves a one match suspension while the knee injury that forced left back Clive Wilson to miss the end of the Reading game is likely to rule him out.

Both men have been in excellent form in recent weeks and bring valuable experience to the side, and although Ian Ashbee or Ben Chenery could cover for Kavanagh there is no ready-made replacement for Wilson. The options would be to ask Ashbee, Chenery or Marc Joseph to play out of position or bring in the left-footed but out-of-form Jamie Cassidy.

Ashbee has played in all the defensive positions as well as midfield this season and done a good job wherever he was needed, so he would probably be the preferred option if Wilson (right) misses out. However Paul Wanless is still struggling to get over a bout of 'flu, and Neil Mustoe's ankle injury ruled him out of the Reading game, so Ashbee could be needed in midfield.

"It's the last thing we want going into a match like this," Roy McFarland told the Cambridge Evening News. "The defence has been playing very well together since the Christmas games. They have gelled, but now we face a double disruption.

"Clive has had trouble with his knee for a while, and has played through it, but now it's got to the stage where only rest can ease the problem. We just have to wait and see how quickly there might be an improvement this week."