RICHARD Naylor is ready to see off the latest batch of defenders looking to challenge for his place.The club's longest serving player is making good progress from a toe injury that has kept him out of first team action for nearly nine months and knows Town are looking to bring in a new centre half.

By Derek Davis

RICHARD Naylor is ready to see off the latest batch of defenders looking to challenge for his place.

The club's longest serving player is making good progress from a toe injury that has kept him out of first team action for nearly nine months and knows Town are looking to bring in a new centre half.

However, the wily Naylor is confident enough that he can push his way back into the manger's thoughts that he even helped the latest candidate, Marcin Adamski, through the Blues' reserves to a 3-0 win over Norwich last night.

Naylor said: “I have been here long enough to know that players come and go. We have trialists all the time, centre halves come and go but I'm still here and keep plugging away.

“The club is all the better for these players coming in. I want the club to do well and be part of that.”

Naylor was gracious enough to add: “Marcin had a decent game. He showed he likes to attack the ball and he has done well in training. He is obviously not used to English football yet as he was dropping deeper, so it may take him a bit of time to adapt.

“He likes to get forward too so I will have to put a rope on him next time.”

Goals from Danny Haynes, Dean Bowditch and Liam Trotter, eased Town to victory and gave Naylor a decent workout in the process.

He said: “It was a proper game on a decent pitch and the young lads did really well. It was a decent work out for us.

“You want to win every game you play in and Norwich had some experienced players so they were no mugs.”

Although not yet 100 per cent, Naylor is now looking to increase his match fitness and push for a starting place.

He said: “The injury is not really fine, it will still be a few weeks before it is fully right but I can play.

“It is a slow healing process but at least I'm now at the stage where I can train every day and play so it is as good as it has been for a long time.

“If needed, I would be able to play in the first team, but obviously I need more games before that, although I soon hope to be putting a seed into the manager's mind.”