Marvin Elliott has been warned he cannot expect to walk straight back into the Crawley team.

Elliott has missed the last five matches with a groin injury but is back in contention for today’s home match with Scunthorpe.

Keith Keane and Gwion Edwards are almost certain to start in a three-man central midfield today leaving Elliott to battle it out with Jimmy Smith and Conor Henderson for the remaining berth.

Gregory said: “It is great to have Marvin available again but the question is whether he can get back into the team now. It is nice to have a little bit of competition in the centre of midfield and it is down to those players who have the shirts at the moment to try to keep them.”

Henderson is likely to drop to the bench having produced a disappointing performance at Oldham two days after being put on the transfer list along with Lewis Young, Matt Harrold, Josh Simpson and Brian Jensen.

Young – who came on in the second half at Boundary Park – will also be among the substitutes today but Simpson and Harrold remain injured while Jensen is now third choice following the arrival of Lewis Price on loan from Crystal Palace this week.

Gregory said: “I had to wake up a few people around the place and I think putting the players on the transfer list had the desired affect as we showed a lot more fight at Oldham.

“I want to make it clear that those players are still very much part of my squad and I will still treat them exactly the same way.”

Lanre Oyebanjo misses his second consecutive game with a thigh injury but top scorer Izale McLeod returns from a one-game ban.

Scunthorpe are without influential midfielder Isaiah Osbourne due to a hamstring injury, with highly-rated West Brom midfielder Liam O’Neil set to make his debut after joining on loan.

Crawley (3-5-2, probable): Price; Bradley, Leacock, Walsh; Bawling, Keane, Edwards, Elliott, Dickson; Tomlin, McLeod. Subs from: Ashdown, Richefond, Henderson, Smith, Young, Banya, O’Connor, Isaacs.

Scunthorpe (4-4-2, probable): Slocombe; Nolan, Llera, Boyce, M Williams; McSheffrey, Bishop, O’Neill, Madden; Taylor, L Williams. Subs from: Olejnik, McAllister, Myrie- Williams, Hawkridge, Kee, Wooton, Brisley, Adelakun.