Julian Joachim and John Eustace were conspicuous by their absence in Coventry City Reserves’ 4-2 win at Wimbledon last night as both were expected to make a playing return.

Gary Breen played his first match since a stomach operation in the summer and came through unscathed, but Eustace and Joachim were not risked in the second string game.

Both are back in full training and should be available for selection for Saturday’s clash against Grimsby Town at Highfield Road.

Joachim has played just 15 minutes in a Coventry shirt during the pre-season tour of Ireland where he picked up an ankle injury. He is expected to come into the team at the weekend in place of Lee Hughes who is suspended after being sent off at Bradford.

But Jairo Martinez will also be competing for one of the forward berths along with teenager Gary McSheffrey.

The Honduran striker hit a hat-trick against Wimbledon last night, while young McSheffrey added to his goal against Leicester last week with a supreme volley across the Dons’ keeper to help City to victory.

RESERVES TEAM:

Montgomery, Pead, Antoelius, Betts, Breen, Davenport, Magennis (Brancati, 82), Craig Strachan, Delorge, Martinez, McSheffrey
Subs not used: Ford, Fahlman, Pipe, Jephcott

GOALS:

Martinez (8, 1-0), Martinez (28, 2-0), Grey (43, 2-1), Nowland (82, 2-2), McSheffrey (84, 3-2), Martinez (90 4-2)

Eustace, meanwhile, could get his first chance to lead out the Sky Blues as captain if he proves his fitness in time to take on the Mariners.

The 21-year-old midfielder was manager Gordon Strachan’s choice of skipper after Moustapha Hadji and John Hartson jumped ship, but he has been out with a knee injury since the start of the season.

The situation with Breen, however, has taken a more complicated turn. The 27-year-old defender was expected to go straight back into the team when he recovered from his stomach operation, but his refusal to sign a new contract could leave him out in the cold.

Chairman Bryan Richardson has told the Irish international to sign up or move on as the Sky Blues cannot afford to risk losing him on a Bosman free transfer at the end of the season.