GARY Bowyer cannot wait to see Clayton Donaldson and Jamie Devitt showing they are the real deal for City.

The pair are both back in contention after lengthy injury absences.

Devitt has been an unused substitute for the past two games and Donaldson is close to featuring again.

Bowyer has praised both for working hard on the road to recovery – but admits nothing can replicate being in the thick of the action.

He said: “Fair play to the pair of them. They are both very good in the way they look after themselves and how they have gone about their recovery.

“But anyone will tell you, it’s game time they need for that little bit of sharpness.

“We can do it all in training but it’s the real stuff they need. That’s the hard bit but it’s the situation we find ourselves in at this time.

“We play Mansfield and then we play Tuesday again, then the window shuts and we play Saturday again.

“After that, it might just calm down again and we can see where we’re at.”

Donaldson has joined in well in training after coming back from his troublesome toe injury.

But it is more likely Bowyer will hold him back for Cheltenham’s visit to Valley Parade in midweek rather than this afternoon’s clash with Mansfield.

“Clayton’s had another good week and he’s going the right way,” added the City boss. “We’ve missed him, without a doubt.

“We’ve missed him in the dressing room in and around the place in the lead-up to games.

“We’ve missed him on the training pitch and we’ve missed him in games because of what he brings to the team with his all-round play and his experience.”

Bowyer has been delighted with the impact of goalkeeper Luke McGee in his first two appearances since joining on loan from Portsmouth.

McGee claimed a first clean sheet at Colchester and his manager was impressed with his calm approach in possession.

“He looks comfortable with the ball at his feet. He played out of a couple of tight situations ever so well and brings a bit of calmness with the way he does it.

“He wasn’t really tested with shot after shot in the game on Tuesday. He made one good save but he’s settled in ever so well.

“The fact he’s not had that much football, he’s only going to get better the more games he plays.

“He’s a real popular member of the group already, which is a credit to him.

“He’s not shy, which most goalkeepers aren’t because they’ve got to be vocal.

“He deserves an enormous amount of credit.”