Competent keeper Josh Lillis is in contention for an Iron recall at Colchester United this weekend.

The 24-year-old is likely to be back on the bench at the Weston Homes Community Stadium when Scunthorpe return to League One action, after completing his comeback from a knee injury.

Lillis played the whole of United's 2-0 reserve defeat by Bradford City this afternoon – his first run-out since damaging knee ligaments, ironically against the U's during the 1-1 draw at Glanford Park, in early September.

Knill has confirmed the loan spell of Manchester United teenager Sam Johnstone, who said his farewells to the Iron yesterday, will not be renewed when it officially expires on Thursday, because of Lillis' return.

"I can't have three goalkeepers on the books, so he was always only going to be here until Josh came back," said the Scunthorpe manager, on Johnstone, who played 13 games for the club.

"I thought he did really well up until his last game. But it's a development time for those players and I'm sure he'll go back a lot stronger."

Also part of a young reserve side this afternoon was Antonio German, a former QPR striker who has joined the Iron on trial.

He is available on a free transfer after leaving Stockport County at the end of a four-month contract last week.

"He was at QPR and we saw him when he was on loan at Aldershot," said Knill.

"He had bags of potential at 18 and we were asked if we would have a look at him, so we put in the reserves."