RAPHAEL Branco is still not fit to return to first team action despite now having been out for over a month.

Town boss Mark Cooper confirmed last week that the Brazilian was back running with physio Paul Godfrey but he is still not fit enough to make a playing return. The club received two different opinions on the severity of his groin tear it now appears that the troublesome diagnosis was the correct one.

The 24-year-old defender is thought to be close to a return but the club does not wish to push out early and risk a relapse.

“(Branco) still won’t be available for the weekend,” said Cooper. “He’s getting closer all the time, it’s one of those injuries where if we rush it he could be out for another six weeks.

“He had a scan and one opinion said that he had a three centimetre tear in his muscle and one that it was a 10 centimetre tear. We’re thinking that the 10 centimetre one was closer. It’s just a different opinion.”

The club are more sure on two other potential doubts for the weekend. Jonathan Obika, who played 45 minutes last Saturday and then came on late against Rochdale, should be available to play a full game if required. Louis Thompson should also be available to start against Colchester.

“(Obika) probably could (play 90 minutes), he had a good chance the other night when he came on, their ‘keeper has made a good save. We were fortunate that we don’t have to rush him because we’ve got three good strikers. Him, Michael Smith and Andy Williams, are all playing well and in good form," Cooper added.

“We’re not going to take any risks with Louis up until the weekend but we are 99 per cent that he will be available for Saturday.”