CALLUM Howe is back available for York City after missing Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Bromley with tonsillitis.

The defender was absent for the trip to Hayes Lane, with Will Smith, his replacement on the afternoon, now a doubt for Friday’s return to the LNER Community Stadium with Chesterfield the visitors (3pm).

Manager Adam Hinshelwood provided an update, with Howe, Smith, Adam Crookes, Leone Gravata, Scott Burgess and Michael Duckworth mentioned, as he looks ahead to the return of crucial players in the next two weeks.

“He [Howe] has trained today, which is a massive positive,” Hinshelwood confirmed.

“He had tonsillitis, so that knocked him out for a few days and he didn’t eat too much. He trained with the group Monday and was back with the full group today.

“He’s going to be a big bonus to have back for the Bank Holiday weekend.

“He was part of the home game here against Aldershot and kept a clean sheet as well, so there is a decision to make there.

“Will Smith came in and did excellently. He kept a clean sheet, and Ryan [Fallowfield] has done well at centre-back.

“We’ve got two centre-backs now, so Ryan could potentially go to right-back, but Thierry [Latty-Fairweather] was excellent again.

“It’s starting to be a settled sort of team and we don’t want to tinker with that too much, but we’ve got to take into account the amount of training Callum had, the severity of his illness and the squad in such a short space of time, as I would imagine that we would need the whole squad over this weekend.

“Will Smith didn’t train today, he had a bit of a knock, but I am hoping that he will be back out training tomorrow.

“I think it’s the change of surfaces. He had a couple of knee injuries when moving from 3G to grass; as someone who suffered with knee injuries, I know all about that.

“It’s just a case of managing him, and I am hoping that he will be available for the matchday squad.

“Burge [Scott Burgess] was back in training today with the group, which was pleasing to see.

“He didn’t have an op. He’s non-contact at the moment, so he will be back in full training next week and back available for the following Saturday.

“Crookesy [Adam Crookes] and Leone Gravata are upping their rehab and are in running with Paul [Harmston, Sports Scientist].

“They will be both available for training next week, and Ducky [Michael Duckworth] as well was out running today.

“There’s four players there that I think in two weeks’ time will be available for us, and what a four players to have available.”

Hinshelwood also lauded the recent upturn in form from Grimsby Town loanee Alex Hunt, after impressing against both Aldershot Town and Bromley, and explained the decision to bring back Zanda Siziba from his loan spell with Blyth Spartans.

Siziba was immediately involved in the matchday squad to take on Bromley, taking the place of Will Davies on the bench, which was a tactical decision.

Hinshelwood told The Press: “He’s (Hunt) been superb. He’s my type of footballer, a really good technician that can deal with the ball in tight areas and he showed his passing range.

“There’s more to come from Hunty. He’s a really exciting player and one that we’re looking forward to working with.

“It was tactical [the decision to drop Davies]. I thought against Bromley that the space would come out wide so I wanted to go with Zanda as an option from the bench rather than Will.

“Len [Lenell John-Lewis] came on and scored the goal in the last game and was involved for Dipo’s [Akinyemi] goal as well, so he’s a real threat when he comes on as well.

“I just thought that having a goalkeeper on the bench was really important for this stage. It just narrows down your options for the bench but I felt that out wide was where we could hurt the opposition at the weekend.

“I went with Zanda over Will for that reason.

“I looked at his goal record for York and he’s scored a few for Blyth. It’s not an area that we are overly blessed with, scoring goals.

“When you have got someone in your ranks that can score and we can play with wider players now, that suits Zanda, it seemed to make sense to recall him and have another body in at this stage of the season, which was really important.”

Hinshelwood also confirmed that winger Charlie Allen had left the football club, returning to parent club Leeds United.

“Charlie’s away with Northern Ireland on international duty, but his loan has come to an end now.”