STEVEN Gillespie will be fit to return to the Colchester United squad this weekend, for the FA Cup second round home tie against Swindon Town.

STEVEN Gillespie will be fit to return to the Colchester United squad this weekend, for the FA Cup second round home tie against Swindon Town.

Front-runner Gillespie travelled up to Cumbria last weekend, but was not involved in the U’s 16-man squad for the 1-0 defeat at Carlisle United.

The ex-Cheltenham 27-year-old has been sidelined for the last month with a sore hamstring, sustained during his only league start of the season, a 4-2 home win over Notts County.

“Steven came up to train really,” explained manager John Ward, with reference to Gillespie’s surprise inclusion in the travelling party for the Carlisle fixture.

“But he will be ready for this Saturday, and that was my kind of view all along.

“I could have sat him on the bench, and could have played him in terms of that, but I didn’t think he was quite ready and I didn’t think it was worth the risk.

“The right thing was to get Steven back with the squad. He trained pretty hard on Friday and Saturday (in Cumbria).

“We’ve monitored that on him really, rather than getting him involved in that game.

“But he will certainly be involved in my selection process this weekend,” confirmed Ward.

Gillespie has spent the bulk of the first half of this season either on the bench or on the treatment table.