Guy Butters is fighting to regain his first team place after a rigorous programme of weight-shedding.

Manager Martin Hinshelwood axed his second signing for last week's Worthington Cup defeat at Ipswich.

Hinshelwood felt Butters, captured on a Bosman free transfer five weeks ago, needed to sharpen up after missing out on first team action this season at Gillingham.

Youngster Adam Virgo took Butters' place at Ipswich and kept it for the home defeat by fellow strugglers Grimsby, but the 32-year-old could be back in contention for Saturday's trip to Watford.

Hinshelwood said: "Guy is an honest pro and he realises he wasn't as fit as he should have been.

"He feels disappointed in himself that he let himself go a little bit because he was on the bench at Gillingham and then playing in the reserves. When it is like that you have got to work that little bit harder.

"He has played in six games for me. I know he can do a lot better and so does he.

"We just felt we needed to pull him out and he has been doing a mini pre-season again. He did that last week and he has lost weight.

"I think he has felt the benefit of it. We have been doing it again this week and he will play in the reserves with a view to perhaps coming back into the squad for Saturday.

"He needed some fitness under his belt because he wasn't doing himself or the team justice. He realised that himself, which is nice."