MIDFIELDER Michael Doughty has a 50/50 chance of featuring against Notts County on Saturday, according to Swindon Town boss Phil Brown.

The former Queen’s Park Rangers man was forced off 16 minutes into Swindon’s fixture with Cambridge United at the Energy Check County Ground on Tuesday night shortly after recovering from a hip problem.

After the game, Brown revealed Doughty had required stitches but remained hopeful the 25-year-old would have a part to play against Harry Kewell’s troops.

Defender Chris Robertson also trained during the week as he continues his long-awaited return from an ankle injury, the 32-year-old has been sidelined since the start of the season with his last Town appearance coming on March 24 in Swindon’s 3-1 defeat to Exeter City at St James’ Park.

Speaking two days in advance of their clash with the Magpies, Brown said it is touch and go on whether top scorer Doughty will be fit enough to take part in the weekend’s League Two clash.

“We are just waiting to hear news on Michael Doughty first and foremost,” said Brown.

“Obviously he limped out of the game on Tuesday and had a nasty gash on his ankle which needed stitches.

“It swelled up a little bit but fingers crossed he is okay to play some part in the game.

“He will have to play through the pain barrier and it’s his right foot opposed to his left foot.

“If it was my standing foot, I would play the game because I didn’t need that foot, but being a midfield player, a lot of the time he comes inside onto that foot.

“I’ll see him and I think at the moment it is a 50/50 situation.

“Outside of that, Chris Robertson and everyone else trained.”

Sid Nelson is again available for selection after being suspended for Tuesday’s home tie after picking up five yellow cards this season.

That said, Brown says the Millwall loanee is not guaranteed a return to the starting XI in the heart of defence as he has a wealth of options such as Dion Conroy, Olly Lancashire, Luke Woolfenden and Joe Romanski to pick from.

“Sid is a combative centre half and he was suspended on Tuesday night and that is going to happen again this season,” said the former Hull City manager.

“Five yellow cards by the end of October suggests he is going to get 10 yellow cards by the end of January or February, whatever the case may be.

“I’m never going to stop Sid from being combative, or putting his head in because I think that is the character of the player.

“I think one or two of our centre halves who can play, who can handle the ball and that’s their priority, could take a page out of Sid’s book and visa versa.

“You can’t put in what God left out.

“Where Sid is concerned, he is learning to control himself a bit more and control the ball a bit more.

“There are three or four defenders who could look at Sid and think they could head the ball a bit more.

“It’s a learning curve for individuals and if you put any two players together, from any level of football, then you’ll probably get a better football player.”