Jonny Henly is set to make a welcome return in goal for Tonbridge this weekend.

The long-serving keeper was sorely missed as Angels lost 4-1 at Taunton on Saturday.

He felt rough on the morning of the game and tested positive for Covid, meaning a debut for young back-up Kevin Manuel.

It was asking a lot of Manuel and Taunton targeted him.

Henly would also have missed Tuesday’s game at Worthing before that was postponed due to storm damage.

However, he’ll be back when Angels host Bath this Saturday (3pm).

“No disrespect to Kev but he’s probably not ready for the level yet,” said manager Jay Saunders.

“We scored an own goal after two minutes and I think their next three shots went in.

“It was disappointing but we actually played quite well, we played some good stuff.

“Their manager said they changed their game plan when they knew we had a young lad in goal to put everything on him.

“We can’t afford an experienced back-up keeper when they won’t be playing.

“Kev’s come along in the summer and he trains with us and does the warm-ups.

“Ideally, I’d have used him in a Kent Cup game rather than having to put him straight into a league game.

“If you speak to most managers, they’ll tell you if you lose your first-choice keeper, it weakens the team, but Jonny will be back for Saturday.”

Player-coach Tom Parkinson was on the bench for the first time since suffering an ankle injury in August.

Jamie Fielding and Ben Swift were also among the substitutes as Angels continue to get players back.

That bodes well for a club who have been battling injury problems most of the season.

“Parky’s ahead of schedule,” said Saunders. “We need to get some minutes into him and Jamie Fielding and Swifty.

“We’ve got the Kent Cup against Gillingham coming up (November 15) and ideally we’ll get them minutes in that.

“We’ve got a busy period coming up and we need to use the squad.

“When everyone’s fit, the squad’s in a really good place.”

Weekend opponents Bath occupy the final play-off spot in National South but Tonbridge, who are five unbeaten at home, would move above them with a win.

Saunders said: “Every time I do my research on a team they seem to be playing Bath, so I’ve seen quite a lot of them.

“They’re a decent side and they’re having a good year.

“It will be a tough test but we’re doing all right at home and playing some good stuff.”