Cambridge Utd

Brabin praises defender Collins
Cambridge United boss Gary Brabin has praised defender Jordan Collins after his first appearance of the season in Saturday's win over Weymouth. Collins, 22, was brought in at left-back after both Anthony Tonkin and Danny Brown came down with illness. Brabin told Radio Cambridgeshire: "Pre-season he wasn't in my plans at all, but I've seen a massive improvement in him. "I was never at any stage worried about putting Jordan in". Meanwhile, Brabin says he can have no complaints over the red card shown to striker Lee McEvilly for a lunge on former U's midfielder Steven Reed. "That was a red card, I'm happy to hold my hands up when decisions go against us," Brabin said. McEvilly will miss the U's next three matches starting with Forest Green on Thursday.

Pitt aims to repay Brabin's faith
Cambridge United winger Courtney Pitt says he is desperate to pay back manager Gary Brabin's loyalty when he makes his comeback from a knee injury. The 26-year-old has moved to United's feeder club Cambridge Regional College on a one-month loan. He told Radio Cambridgeshire: "Hopefully when I come back I can repay confidence in me. "I'm way behind on my fitness levels. I need to get some games in before I can even be considered for the first team." The former Portsmouth player was a regular in the United fold last season, helping the club reach the Blue Square Premier play-off final. He was released by then manager Jimmy Quinn but re-signed by new boss Brabin, before picking up a serious knee injury in pre-season.

McMahon joins U's for the season
Cambridge United have made Stevenage midfielder Daryl McMahon their first signing of the January transfer window. The 25-year-old former Port Vale and Leyton Orient man joins on a free transfer and has signed a contract until the end of the season. U's boss Gary Brabin told Radio Cambridgeshire: "I just felt we needed another left-footed midfielder. "He's someone we've kept a eye on and comes in on a short-term contract, he's just glad to have the opportunity." McMahon made 14 appearances for Stevenage this season, but was transfer listed back in November after falling out of favour at Broadhall Way. Brabin feels his new man will provide good cover for the injured Mark Convery. "He's can play a couple of positions, he can play left midfield and in the centre. "He just gives us a few more options, and he gives us more balance being a left-footer." Both Brabin and the U's board had previously suggested that any new arrivals would need to be funded by player sales. But Brabin is not expecting to lose any of his current squad. "I've heard a lot of rumours, but that happens at every club and there have been no firm offers for any of the players," he said. Meanwhile, Brabin has confirmed that defender Phil Bolland will be remaining at the club on a week-to-week basis following speculation that he was looking to rejoin former boss Mark Wright at Chester.

Brabin denies U's funds ultimatum
Cambridge United boss Gary Brabin says he has not issued the club's board with an ultimatum over extra transfer funds. Brabin called on the board to back him in the transfer market following Wednesday's 5-0 mauling against Crawley in the FA Trophy. The U's boss told Radio Cambridgeshire: "I just wanted to make it clear that we all need to be pulling in the same direction. "I'm not a quitter, I'm just very disappointed with the defeat." Top scorer Lee McEvilly was allowed the leave the club on the understanding Scott Rendell would be remaining on loan. With Rendell having returned to Peterborough, the U's have been left short of a target man forward. But with the club looking to cut costs in the current economic downturn, Brabin insists that he will carry on with whatever resources are made available. "I'll be battling with the board all the way to try and improve the squad, but equally they'll be putting their point across that the long-term future of the club is more important," he said. "As long as we all understand that - supporters, board, management, players - there's not a problem." Two of the U's major summer signings - Courtney Pitt and Anthony Parkinson - have spent most of the season out through injury, whilst others such as Jon Challinor and Danny Crow have struggled to make an impact. Nevertheless Brabin's side are well placed in the Blue Square Premier table, and have every chance of making the end of season play-offs. "I want us to be a top six side, pushing for promotion which at the moment we are achieving," he said. "If we win on Saturday we could go third in the league, so it's not all doom and gloom."

Brabin calls for U's consistency
Cambridge United boss Gary Brabin wants to see greater consistency from his side following Thursday's 2-0 defeat to promotion rivals Wrexham. The U's have not managed to win back-to-back league matches since October. Brabin told Radio Cambridgeshire: "We've been stuttering all season, we jump up to third, then fourth, then slip back down to sixth. "I just feel we need to start putting back-to-back wins together as we've haven't done that enough. Brabin felt his side may have turned the corner after a convincing 4-1 win over Woking on Saturday. But the U's were swamped in midfield by a well organised Wrexham side and struggled for chances. Brabin admits their performance at the Racecourse Ground was an anti-climax. "We've got a cracking squad of players and I keep saying how we're not a million miles away," he said "After the performance last week and the lift we've all had in bringing Scott Rendell back to the club I was really confident, but it wasn't to be." Brabin chose to throw Scott Rendell straight into the starting line-up following his return to the club on loan. The U's boss was less than impressed with the efforts of his forwards. "The last few weeks we have looked a bit more clinical in front of goal, and we've got some quality strikers. "We had loads of possession of the ball, but we just didn't have enough quality in the final third."

Potter says U's can improve away
Cambridge United goalkeeper Danny Potter says the U's must turn round their poor away record if they are to prosper in the Blue Square Premier. The U's have not won away in the league since August and slipped to a 2-0 defeat at Wrexham on Thursday. Potter told Radio Cambridgeshire: "Home or away should make no difference. At Wrexham our fans made as much noise as the home fans. "We've got to pick up our away form if we're to have any hope of pushing on." The U's have lost just twice at home all season, beating Woking 4-1 in their most recent match at the Abbey. However, Potter says thrashing the league's weaker sides proves nothing. "At the end of the day, we're Cambridge United and we're one of the two top teams at this level with our history and fan base," he said. "We should be beating the likes of Woking - it's the games at Wrexham or Torquay that are the real tests."

Holroyd keen to impress U's fans
Cambridge United striker Chris Holroyd feels the club's fans are warming to him after a slow start to his career at the Abbey. The 22-year-old scored on his U's debut at Eastbourne but went 16 matches before next finding the net. But Holroyd has become a first-team regular over recent weeks. He told Radio Cambridgeshire: "It's good to feel wanted at a club. When the fans sing your name before a game there's no better feeling." The former Crewe and Chester man has struck up an impressive partnership with Scott Rendell since his return from loan at Peterborough. The pair have scored nine goals in five games when starting up front together. "We've formed a good partnership, I like playing with Scotty, but whatever the gaffer decides to do, all the strikers here compliment each other well," Holroyd said. Gary Brabin's side go to struggling Lewes on Saturday with Holroyd anxious to hold onto his place in the side and make it three wins back to back in the league for the first time since August. "On a personal level I want to keep playing, and from a team point of view we've picked up our form at the right time," Holroyd said.

Cambridge secure double signing
Cambridge United have signed goalkeeper Aaron Grundy and striker Lee Phillips in time for Monday's clash with Histon. Grundy, 21, started his career at Bury and joined Blue Square North side Burscough FC last August, having been released by the Shakers. His most recent appearances have been for Unibond League side Warrington and he joins the U's on non-contract terms. Phillips, 28, is one of the group of 15 players who served 14 days' notice at troubled Weymouth.

Ling gives stern half-time talk
Cambridge manager Martin Ling has said that he delivered a stern half-time team talk after his side's poor first half in Sunday's 1-1 draw with Histon. Cambridge went on to take an 81st-minute lead through Chris Holroyd before Matt Langston's last-minute header ensured the game was drawn. Ling told Radio Cambridgeshire: "The first half wasn't anywhere near good enough, we lacked energy. "I laid into them at half time and told them to match Histon's endeavour." The draw at the Glass World Stadium halted United's three-match losing run and Ling is confident that they are starting to show the quality needed to move up the table. "There's players in there that can do the job," added Ling. "They proved that in the second half and it frustrates you when the difference is that vast from the first half." The U's host Ebbsfleet on Saturday with Ling optimistic they can build on the performance. "It's half a step forward," he said. "It would have been a massive step forward to win the game. "Another late goal has cost us and that is becoming a bit of a trend at the moment, which is frustrating."

Cambridge United sign Aiden Palmer
Cambridge United have signed left-back Aiden Palmer on a free transfer until the end of the season. The former Leyton Orient man, 23, has recently served a seven-month prison sentence for his part in a gangland brawl in North London in 2007. U's boss Martin Ling told Radio Cambridgeshire: "Aiden's in the last chance saloon in terms of relaunching his career. "I know Aiden well and he's got a great opportunity here." Palmer - who started his career under Ling at Orient - has been playing at Bishop's Stortford following his release. Ling says Palmer could prove to be a bargain signing for the U's if he can recapture his best form. "I feel that because of things outside of football we've got ourselves a bargain because he's played 50 League games," Ling said. "He knows his way around the pitch, but he has to come back from the problems he's had." Palmer arrives as a replacement for Anthony Tonkin who moved to Oxford last week.

Cambridge United winger Conal Platt to wait on scan
Cambridge United winger Conal Platt is yet to discover whether he will require surgery to a hip injury. The 23-year-old hobbled off 20 minutes into Saturday's 2-0 defeat by Luton. U's assistant boss Paul Carden told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire: "He's gone to see a specialist who has confirmed it is a hip problem, not his hamstring. "But until we get the results of an MRI scan we don't know whether it will be a case of him having to rest, or he could need some sort of surgery." Platt, who signed from Forest Green Rovers in the summer, has made a mark at the Abbey Stadium with some impressive displays and Carden admits he will be missed. "He's a big player for us, he's got a lot of ability, I think we were just starting to see the best of him," he said. "Hopefully he'll have a quick recovery for his sake and the team's sake." Carden himself has had his playing time cut down by an ankle injury this season, while fellow midfielder Adam Miller has been sidelined with ankle ligament damage. Combined with Rory McAuley and and Kevin Roberts' setbacks this campaign, Carden is hoping his side's luck is about to change. "We have strength and conditioning coaches in to avoid picking up muscle injuries," he added. "They're not injuries that are common, hopefully we've had the three now and we don't get anymore."

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