Ian Holloway said that if he was George Cox then he would be feeling worried after the performances from Jake Cain for Swindon Town.
Cox has been out for the last three matches after his foot was left heavily bruised, which was causing him in too much pain to play.
However, he did return to training last week; just not in time to see him available for the trip to Harrogate Town.
With him and Billy Kirkman both out injured, that has left Town without a recognised left-back and Cain has filled in very adeptly during that time.
Holloway said that he has been playing so well that Cox may have a battle on his hands to return to the line-up once he is fully ready.
He said: “We are nowhere near where we were before in the blame side of ‘Who brought these in?’ but I think some of their potential is showing, even the ones that were under the radar and weren’t even playing and might have been out of work, like Jake Cain.
“Look how well he has played; I have had Coxy out and, with the greatest of respect to him because he is wonderful, you wouldn’t have known it in the last few weeks, you wouldn’t have noticed it when we won 5-1.
“Jake doesn’t normally play there and that is a massive credit to everybody in that group that I didn’t throw away – how easy is it to throw away some good stuff?
“I have learnt my whole life that you have to sieve it first before you chuck it in the bin as someone good might come out of a situation that they didn’t deserve to be in.
“Jake Cain is doing that for me, he has to wait longer than others and is out of his position but I can’t ask for any more.
“If I was George Cox then I would be looking over my shoulder with how he has done.”
Cain, for his part, has been enjoying the move away from his natural position and could see a future being deployed at the back.
He said: “But who knows, if I keep developing there and playing well then maybe that could be my position in the future.
“I see myself as a midfielder for now but the way that I am playing at left-back, if I can keep playing like that then maybe that is something.”
