Gary:No Rift with Marcus

City boss Gary Johnson has stated on local radio that there is no rift between Marcus Stewart and himself. Rumours of such a situation had been rife as supporters found Stewart’s exclusion from the side difficult to understand, particularly in last week’s match at Barnsley when main striker and skipper Steve Brooker was forced out by injury.
The City boss admits that Marcus is unhappy about languishing on the substitutes bench, but says this is natural for any player with first team ambitions. The manager also reveals that the pair have had ‘cross words’ during the time they have worked together, but says the same could be said of each of the twenty four players in the squad and that his relationship with the ex-Sunderland striker is fine.
Meanwhile preparations for tomorrow’s home match with Brentford continue and with Steve Brooker looking set to return, Bas Savage, Calvin Andrew and Stewart will be in competition for the other strike position. David Noble looks set to return in midfield with Cole Skuse dropping to the bench. In defence Bradley Orr seems sure to return after suspension, to the exclusion of Jamie Smith,
Fulham loan pair of Margot Fontaine and Adam Green are likely to feature in place of the suspended duo Louis Carey and Craig Woodman, while Brazilian stopper Adriano Basso is set to return in place of Steve Phillips.