Michael Flynn said that he was hopeful of having players back in the fold for when Swindon Town take on Colchester United on Saturday.

Following the departures of Dan Kemp and Jake Young having been recalled from their loan deals this week, Swindon could be down to as few as 11 senior players available when they take on Colchester at the County Ground this weekend.

With Tom Brewitt having to withdraw from the starting line-up during the warm-ups against Crawley Town on Monday, Swindon were without eight players on New Year’s Day and have since lost two more players.

Facing the prospect of having to field all of his fit players this weekend, Flynn said that he believed that he would have players return in time for the game.

He said: “We would [be short without any incomings] but I am hoping that we could have Rushian [Hepburn-Murphy] and Tom Clayton back for next week as well.

“Frazer [Blake-Tracy] is not too far away, he is probably another ten to 12 days away from being back fit.”

It is not yet clear whether Brewitt will be able to recover in time for the game this weekend after his injury at Crawley.

Speaking to club media, Flynn said of his injury: “It was a last-minute change right at the end of the warm-up.

“He didn’t feel he could do the team or himself justice and I kind of respect his honesty on that because a lot of players might have started.

“It is just a flare-up of his [patellar tendonitis], he was doing something in the warm-up and he landed awkwardly and felt the discomfort that he couldn’t play.”

One player who remains a long-term absentee is Tariq Uwakwe, who has not been involved with the squad since Town’s victory over Newport County in October, and Flynn said that he still had a way to go with his recovery.

He said: “He is probably still four to six weeks away because he has to build up his work on the grass.

“I don’t like giving exact timeframes because a lot of things can happen and there can be problems in rehab, nothing has happened with Tariq in terms of that.

“That is the reason why I can’t be so exact with it and I try and give you as much as I can but that is where he is at right now.”