Harvey delight at Hardiker return
Forest Green Rovers boss Jim Harvey was delighted to see John Hardiker return to the side against Northwich Victoria.
Hardiker scored twice in the 3-0 win that saw Rovers climb out of the drop zone, but it was his presence at the heart of defence that lifted Harvey.
And Harvey revealed Hardiker's fellow centre-back Darren Jones is also close to a return to the first-team ranks.
"You can see how good John is, as is Darren who isn't far from coming back," he told Radio Gloucestershire.
"Hardiker and Jones were our two main centre-halves and if we're looking at our season so far they've only played 10 or 11 games out of the 36 or 37 that we've played.
"That's where most of our problems have come from, conceding goals."
While praising the contributions of Lee Ayres and Matthew Preece in recent weeks, Harvey will hope Hardiker and Jones, who could return at the weekend against Stevenage, can add some steel to defence in the fight against relegation.
Horror collision sidelines Gill
Forest Green's Jerry Gill will be out of action for at least four weeks after colliding with advertising hoardings in the club's 3-3 draw against Oxford.
Assistant boss Gill, who is on loan at the New Lawn from Cheltenham, suffered three fractures to the right side of his face moments before half-time.
The 38-year-old also sustained injuries to both of his knees.
He is set to spend three days in a specialist clinic in Worcester for an operation to insert a plate.
Forest Green sign Dons midfielder
Forest Green Rovers have signed midfielder Dave King on a month-long loan deal from MK Dons.
The 19-year-old joins the New Lawn outfit who are hoping King will be available for the trip to Mansfield.
King signed for the League One Dons in August 2008 and has made just one League Cup appearance as a substitute.
Dave Hockaday's Rovers are currently just above the Blue Square Premier relegation zone, having won two games in 14 attempts.
