Chris Lakey Gary Doherty is preparing for a busy week on the training fields of Colney - and hoping it ends with a recall to the starting line-up.The central defender missed Tuesday's game against Stoke through suspension after his two yellows at Coventry the previous weekend.

Chris Lakey

Gary Doherty is preparing for a busy week on the training fields of Colney - and hoping it ends with a recall to the starting line-up.

The central defender missed Tuesday's game against Stoke through suspension after his two yellows at Coventry the previous weekend.

City manager Glenn Roeder opted to stick with Alex Pearce and Jason Shackell for the trip to Sheffield United on Saturday - but the manner in which City conceded two second-half goals means Doherty, a 67th-minute replacement for Shackell, is going to be back in the reckoning for the must-win game against Colchester this coming weekend.

"I never really felt I deserved a red card at Coventry, so I am just gutted that's cost me my place," said Doherty, a virtual ever-present under Roeder. "We lost on Tuesday, but the gaffer felt the lads did alright so he stuck with them and it will be interesting to see if I'm back in it for next week."

The game against the division's bottom side is a must-win, with City just three points off the drop zone.

"We are on a run at the minute and it's something we have got to put right because we've obviously been dragged right into it," admitted Doherty. "So we have got a massive game at home to Colchester next week and it's really key for us now.

"They are a little but out of it, but obviously if they come to our place and get a result it's going to gee them right up so it is a massive game. We have got a big week ahead of us, focusing on that game and getting everything right."

The topsy-turvy nature of the Championship was summed up by Leicester's 4-1 win at West Brom - a month after putting four past Norwich and a result which didn't help City's cause at all.

"That's this league isn't it?" said Doherty. "West Brom are a fantastic team and Leicester hardly score - but they popped us for four and West Brom for four. But you never know, Leicester could lose next week, that's how even this league is at the minute.

"When we were on our great run we were winning games by the odd goal and although it was two today we have been losing games by the odd goal, which is probably the turning point.

"So once we start turning those defeats the other way around and get the 1-0 victories hopefully we can start pushing again."