Finnigan joined Cheltenham from Lincoln City in 2002

Cheltenham Town captain John Finnigan is expected to be fit for the new season following a long-term injury.

The 32-year-old last played in October 2007 in the defeat to Northampton and has been sidelined with a heel injury.

Manager Keith Downing told BBC Radio Gloucestershire: "I'm very pleased with John Finnigan, he's getting some light at the end of the tunnel."

"He'll be like a new signing for us, he's very inspirational to the team and we missed him greatly last year."

Downing added: "John's had a very important operation which has helped free a nerve in the bottom of his foot, which has given him a lot of problems in the last few months.

We've got some players that I think are like new players for us Keith Downing

"Fingers crossed John will be figuring at the back end of pre-season."

And the Robins boss said he has had good news on players who missed the end of last season: "Michael Townsend is coming back from illness and we're hopeful that's behind him now.

"Damian Spencer's continuing with his knee rehabilitation and he'll be a little bit later than John [Finnigan], but he's progressing well.

"Andy Gallinagh has a routine hamstring injury but he's training, Gavin Caines is also training, so we've got some players that I think are like new players for us.

"They've played a major part in the past and I'm sure they'll do that again this year."