SCUNTHORPE United are hoping midfield man Michael O'Connor will be fit to take part in tomorrow's final friendly of their pre-season programme at home to Huddersfield Town.

The 22-year-old player has missed the last two games with a thigh strain and has yet to get a full 90 minutes under his belt.

"Michael desperately needs some game time for us," said assistant boss Andy Crosby.

"He is the only one of our senior players who is short of time on the field.

"He trained flat out yesterday, we will monitor him today and if there is no reaction then I am sure he will be involved at some stage tomorrow."

O'Connor, a £200,000 signing from Crewe last summer, was due to be involved in last Saturday's friendly with Sheffield Wednesday.

But he pulled up during the pre-match warm-up with a thigh problem and was left out of the game as a precaution.

He also missed the 1-0 defeat at York City on Tuesday night.

"He originally picked up a dead leg in the friendly we had at Winterton," said Crosby.

"He missed a couple of days, got back into training again and then felt something again before the Sheffield Wednesday game.

"Michael is an important player for us and is part of that senior group who needs to be ready for the first game of the new season at Reading."

There is also better news of United's other injury concern, Eddie Nolan.

The Republic of Ireland Under-21 defender, on loan from Preston, limped off early in the second half at York on Tuesday night with an ankle problem.

It was feared he would miss the start of the season – but now he might just be ready.

"It is not as bad as we first feared," said Crosby.

"The biggest concern at the time was that the injury was to the same ankle he got a knock on last season.

"But much of the swelling has gone down now.

"Eddie won't be available for tomorrow, but hopefully might be ready for the following week at Reading."

Tomorrow's game at Glanford Park will be a final full dress rehearsal for the Iron ahead of the new campaign.

"Yes, it might give an indication as to what sort of team will be playing at Reading," confessed Crosby.

"The defeat at York was a disappointment but Huddersfield will be a good test for us.

"They are a big club who will be expected to do even better than last season when they made the play-offs.

"They have added some good experienced players to their squad during the summer."

Huddersfield lost out to Millwall in the semi-finals of the League One play-offs in May.

Manager Lee Clark has already added eight new faces to his squad – and is still looking to do some more business.

"If we can get that little bit extra in, it will take us to another level," said club chief executive Nigel Clibbens.

"But everybody knows we are ambitious and trying to get more people in, which means they hold us to ransom and we have to try and resist that."