DRISSA Diallo is looking forward to playing alongside Matt Elliott for the first time tomorrow if John McGreal fails a late fitness test on an ankle injury.

DRISSA Diallo is looking forward to playing alongside Matt Elliott for the first time tomorrow if John McGreal fails a late fitness test on an ankle injury, writes Derek Davis.

Elliott joined on loan from Leicester City when Diallo suffered a gash above his nose against Millwall and after recovering from injury was suspended for last week's win at Wimbledon.

The Guinea-international is fit and raring to go again and looking to restore some wounded pride after being part of a side which has conceded so many goals this season.

Diallo said: "I have not played with Matt yet so it would be a good experience.

"As a defender when you concede a goal you cannot be happy. Everyone points a finger to the defence and especially at the back four and the keeper.

"But when we score we score as a team so when we concede a goal it is the team.

"The problem for the manager is different people are making the mistakes, so you think you have one thing sorted out then someone else makes an error.

"It is down to concentration. We are all working hard to avoid giving away goals and we work hard in training not to make the same mistakes."

Diallo played in the reserves defeat by West Ham in midweek and is desperate to get back in the first team as he still feels he has something to prove.

He said: "I would prefer to be playing as I was out for four months and it is not easy when you have been out for so long.

"When you are with a new club you want to prove your worth to the manager and the supporters so I wanted to come back and do my best and show what I can do again."

While Thomas Gaardsoe's return will be special for the fans the Town squad will not be making a fuss.

Diallo said: "It won't make any difference to the players. I will shake his hand before the game but we won't make special allowances.

"It is not just him who can score, we must watch out for all of their players.

"Most of them are six foot plus so we have to be careful at free kicks and corners."

Diallo feels Town cannot afford any more slip-ups in the remaining seven matches and at the same time can take advantage of points being taken by clubs off each other at the top.

He added: "Ten teams can make the play-offs so we can't afford to drop any points."

Diallo could step in alongside Elliott or may even be part of a three man defence with any permutation of himself, Elliott, McGreal and Georges Santos.