PHIL PARKINSON has explained his decision not to add Anthony Forde to his squad list before reaching his full quota of outfield players following the recruitment of Matty James and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson.

Clubs in the third tier are limited to a 22-man squad, although that number does not include goalkeepers or players who were under the age of 21 - such as Sebastian Revan and Mo Faal - at the start of the calendar year.

When Parkinson submitted his list to the EFL in September for the first half of the 2024-25 League One season, he left two spots open with Forde the only senior player at The Racecourse not included.

Forde, who missed the final three months of last season with a back problem and restricted to two EFL Trophy appearances this term, was given time to prove his fitness but a spate of injuries left the Reds boss short of cover in midfield and attack so free agents James and Bodvarsson were brought in on Friday and immediately registered in the squad.

That means Forde will only be able to feature in cup games until clubs are allowed to change their squad list when the January transfer window opens but Parkinson insists the right wing-back, who has Ryan Barnett, Luke Bolton and  Revan ahead of him in the pecking order, is not a forgotten man.

"We have got a lot of over in that position," said the Reds' boss.

"I had a good chat with Fordey about it and with the back injury he had, he was still not quite where he wanted to be in pre-season.

"If you get to where we are at the end of October, if you said that he is now completely pain free and his strength and his power is coming back, I think we would have taken that.

"I just want Fordey to utilise this period to get himself as strong as possible to put himself back in contention in January.

"But Fordey's professionalism is unquestionable, he is a great lad and he is an integral part of the group.

"He will be ready if called upon in cup games or when the squad rule isn't in place in January and the squad for the second half of the season is reassessed."