York City's Dipo Akinyemi at 80 per cent as boss issues injury update

The 26-year-old has not featured for the Minstermen since injuring his hamstring during the early stages of the second half in their 2-0 victory over Oxford City on November 21.

But boss Neal Ardley has confirmed that his top-scorer is at 80 per cent in his recovery, and whilst that comes too early for tomorrow afternoon’s trip to Rochdale (3pm), he could be back in contention as early as next Saturday’s home clash with Ebbsfleet United.

“Dipo is being phased back in at the moment, and he’s worked up to about 80 per cent,” Ardley confirmed, with a smile.

“He’s joined in training - as in we’ve made training sessions where he can be a part of it without having to sprint exposed and stuff like that – so he can pass, he can move.

“He’s up to about 80 per cent, so we’re hoping that next week, we can tick the last couple of boxes.”

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Adam Crookes is also stepping up his return from injury, following a phased return similar to Callum Harriott’s rehabilitation, which saw him return to the starting line-up at Nantwich Town last week.

“Crookesy we’ve taken our time with because he kept coming back and wasn’t right, and coming back and wasn’t right,” the City boss admitted.

“Crookesy’s now joined in for the first time in training, virtually full training, so he’s being phased back in.

“It’s the same with Callum Harriott, it was all about taking a bit longer to do the work so that they don’t break down again, because that’s happening too often.

“Those are conversations that I’ve had with Callum and about us training and making sure that the weaknesses have been identified and he’s going off and doing the work.” 

Two people who are back in contention for tomorrow afternoon’s clash are defender Will Smith and midfielder Olly Dyson.

Smith returned for a second loan spell with the Minstermen earlier this week after completing his rehabilitation from a knee injury with parent club Harrogate Town, whilst Dyson has recovered from the slight tweak that saw him miss last weekend’s FA Trophy tie.

“Will reacted well to the injection that he had, and he did some training with Harrogate,” Ardley continued.

“Dyson, he wasn’t fit last week, he tweaked his thigh slightly.

“But he joined in full training and he potentially comes back into the reckoning.

“I don’t think that there’s anyone that’s all of a sudden become unavailable, so hopefully - bar perhaps Dipo and Batts - I’ll be able to pick reasonably well.”

Levi Andoh has been set back in his return from a back fracture.

Ardley also provided an update on long-term absentees Dan Batty and Levi Andoh.

Both have been set back in their returns from their respective knee and back injuries, with the club now utilising reduced-weighting technology to aid in their rehabilitations.

“The bad news is that Dan Batty is a real slow burner,” Ardley said. “He doesn’t need surgery on his knee, but it’s not fixing quickly.

“We’ve had an injection in there, and unfortunately his little boy has not been well again, and he’s had to go into hospital. He’s not having an easy time of it.

“But we have got a programme in place where we’re building him up on an AlterG machine where it takes some of your body weight so that you can get your running in.

“That’s the same with Levi, who's back’s just seized up again since he had that fracture in it, so we have to de-load him and build him back up again.”