Ian Holloway said that he would have to think long and hard about whether to give Danny Butterworth a new contract with Swindon Town.
Although he has been out of action since October last year and his contract officially ran out in the summer, Butterworth has remained with Swindon throughout pre-season.
The 26-year-old went on the pre-season tour to Alicante and has been in attendance at each of the team’s pre-season friendlies, even if he is not yet fit to participate.
Butterworth has been continuing his rehabilitation from a ruptured hamstring which required two surgeries with the club, but Holloway said earlier in the summer that he was open to handing him a new contract once he returned to fitness.
Although pressure has been put on Swindon with a rash of injuries throughout the summer, as they already have two players with long-term injuries, and Holloway said that signing another player who has just returned from a major problem may be difficult.
He said: “Well, he's still not fit yet. I'm not his physio. I haven't asked about him today. I've got no idea with that one.
“I was told two or three weeks, but his pay runs out, and can I really sign anyone who's been as unfit as him? Puts pressure on me, that doesn't it? So, I have to wait and see, I'm afraid. It's the way things go.
“If he goes and gets injured again, and I've only got a certain amount of money to spend, all these things weigh up. We have got to be very careful with who we bring in.”
Butterworth has been a favourite of Holloway’s during his time with Swindon, as he enjoys having a winger who is capable of running at teams and beating players with the ball at their feet.
Prior to the arrival of Joseph Hungbo, this was not a skill set that existed within the squad, and if the former Carlisle United man could have got back to his best, then it was a role Holloway would have liked to keep him for.
As he is out-of-contract, Swindon are not in a rush to sign him, as they would be able to do a deal outside of the transfer window, and so would be able to wait and see if alternatives exist or if he recovers well.
Holloway had said that he “hoped” he was in a position to keep him, but the injury crisis has clouded that.
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