Colchester United manager Danny Cowley has revealed that striker Samson Tovide is available for tomorrow’s trip to Mansfield Town.
The 20-year-old has been out of action since picking up an ankle injury in December. He was originally pencilled in to return in the 1-1 draw with Walsall last weekend, but failed to make the matchday squad. Instead, Tovide was given a run out in the BBC Essex Cup final against Redbridge FC on Tuesday night, completing 45 minutes before being substituted at half time.
Fighting for their lives towards the bottom of the table, the U’s currently sit 22nd in League Two, level on points with Forest Green Rovers in 23rd. However, with two games in hand, the Essex-based side are perhaps the favourites to avoid relegation.
An away tie at the league leaders is as tough as it gets, especially when they have gone seven games without a win. The appointment of the Cowley’s in January has seen an improvement though. Despite their current winless streak, the former Lincoln City duo have drawn seven of their 10 fixtures thus far, making their team difficult to beat.
📋 Here's how the U's line up for this evening's BBC Essex Senior Cup Final.
💪 Let's go! #ColU | #WeAreUnited pic.twitter.com/hCzYQtz9yF
— Colchester United FC (@ColU_Official) March 19, 2024
Goals are the nature of the game and welcoming an attacker such as Tovide back to the team is a timely boost. Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s lunchtime clash at Field Mill, the 45-year-old told Gazette News:
“It’s a massive plus.
“He’s a boy that brings an infectious energy and a brilliant attitude.”
With four goals in 16 appearances this season, Cowley said the forward will be crucial over the course of the season run-in:
“James McFarlane, the academy manager, asked me on day one what I wanted a young Colchester United player to look like.
“It’s an open-ended question; it’s not an easy question to answer, but when I reflect on that question, I think it’s boys that you have to hold back.
“I don’t like the ones that you have to push forward. I think in life and particularly with young people today, too many of them you have to push forward.
“I don’t know if this is because of the world that we live in, maybe the education system is so caring and sharing now, maybe it’s Covid, maybe it’s social media, I don’t know.
“But I find more and more young people you’ve got to keep trying to push forward and I like the ones you have to try to hold back and Samson is definitely one that you have to hold back.
“He’s got an incredible personality, a larger than life character, I think he brings a determination, a fight and a real positive energy that I think is going to be crucial for us, in the final ten games.
“To bring him back into the team gives everyone such a lift. He loves football and he’s a great kid who’s always got a smile on his face and wants to get better.
“I go to bed resting easy that he can be the very best he can be – you can just see it in him.”
Cowley also revealed that defender Ellis Iandolo is back in training after missing the last two games:
“Ellis has trained this week, which is a huge positive.
“Ellis has been a really important player for this team with his experience and game intelligence and knowhow, which I think will be really important for the run in.”
Writer’s View
The Cowley’s have made Colchester a tough team to beat, but they really need to start turning these draws into wins. Nobody expects them to get anything out of Mansfield, so it is a bit of a free hit, although time is starting to run out.
The U’s have some tough fixtures between now and the end of April and will be wary of Forest Green’s recent mini revival. Samson Tovide’s return could swing the pendulum in favour of the Essex-based team. although this is likely to be a fight that goes all the way to the wire.
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