MICHAEL Appleton plans to tread carefully while he weighs up what to do about having three fit senior goalkeepers on the books.

Ryan Clarke is set to continue at Cambridge United tomorrow after making an impressive return from injury in the 1-0 win over Newport County last weekend.

Appleton had indicated a decision would be made this week on one of the other two goalkeepers in the squad.

The U’s head coach acknowledged last week the options would be either to cut short George Long’s stay from Sheffield United, or loan Max Crocombe out.

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Appleton is aware it could be a delicate decision and after seeing how intense training has been this week, he is in no rush.

“I quite like the thought of that for another couple of weeks, just to see where we’re at,” he said.

“If there’s an opportunity to do something and it works for everyone then we will do, but there’s obviously a fine balance.

“How I manage them off the pitch is going to be important over the next week or so.”

Appleton confirmed he had spoken to a couple of outfield players on the fringes of the squad about the possibility of arranging a loan.

For the moment it does not include Alfie Potter, who suffered a groin injury in training last week.

But the winger, who has not played a minute for the first team in the last five weeks, could be made available when he returns to fitness.

Appleton said: “When he’s back fit if he doesn’t find himself in and around the squad, or certainly on the bench, then at some point you need regular football, so he could come into that equation.”

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