Midfielder David Bridges has suffered medial knee ligament damage but Boro are hopeful the 25-year-old could be back in time if the club make the play-offs. Bridges suffered the injury in the 1-1 draw against Oxford last weekend and there were initial fea

Midfielder David Bridges has suffered medial knee ligament damage but Boro are hopeful the 25-year-old could be back in time if the club make the play-offs.

Bridges suffered the injury in the 1-1 draw against Oxford last weekend and there were initial fears his season could be over but, after seeing a specialist in the week, it seems there could be light at the end of the tunnel.

"We're optimistic with Bridges - he is a very hardworking lad," Westley told The Comet. "He was the first one on Saturday night to be searching out the latest ideas and methods connecting himself to the sorts of regimes that we need to get him in to if he is going to be fit.

"He is already away working with some specialists to speed up his recovery. There's every chance it will take around four to five weeks."

Andy Drury is also keeping the Boro medical staff busy after tearing his hamstring against Ebbsfleet in the FA Trophy but Westley hopes his fringe players see injuries to his first team regulars as a chance to establish themselves in the side.

"Andy's going to be a while as well," added Westley, who has presided over the club's record breaking 24-match unbeaten run. "But their disappointment and their absence is someone else's opportunity.

"You look at the talent we had in midfield against York with the likes of (Michael) Bostwick, (Gary) Mills, (Darren) Murphy and (Mitchell) Cole - there is an abundance of talent at the football club.

"We can't afford for too many to go down. We're stretching our resources and the squad is being asked to work - we always knew that would happen.

"When you are playing Saturday-Tuesday then you pick up knocks and suspensions.

"You need a squad of players that are hungry and together and they are. The thankful thing is that every man in the squad needs to do a job and that keeps everyone involved and it keeps the team spirit up.