George Ray will be not risked in tonight’s Under-23 fixture at Cardiff City. The former Wales Under-21 International had been working towards gaining some game time, but the Development fixture has come a bit too soon for him.

Ray has now resumed full training after overcoming a fracture in his lower back but the Alex boss wanted to give him some extra days to work on his sharpness. Ray has not featured since injuring his back during our Easter fixture at Yeovil.

David Artell told us: “George is back with us but he hasn’t quite made it to be involved tonight. We want him fit and ready and he isn’t quite there. There is no time scale on him and we discussed the fact that it would be a long journey to Cardiff to play 45 minutes.

“We thought that some extra days training will be better for him. George wants to get back playing but he also understands Mother Nature and the things he cannot affect. He can affect working hard in the gym and getting back as soon as he can.”