Wycombe Wanderers boss Gareth Ainsworth is looking forward to locking horns with his old boss Gary Johnson this weekend as the Chairboys take on Cheltenham Town.

Johnson was one of Ainsworth’s first managers during his playing days, when the former winger moved to Cambridge.

Since those days, Ainsworth has held Johnson in the highest regard ever since and knows his side are in for a tough game at Adams Park on Saturday. 

He said: “I know Gary very well. When I moved from Preston to Cambridge, John Beck got the sack and Gary took over there.

“He was John’s assistant before that and I am not surprised he has done really well in management and he has done really well and I have a lot of respect for him, going back a long way and I have a lot of respect.

“He gets results and he is a manager of a team in this league who you don’t fancy as much as the likes of Luton.

“Gary got them straight back up a couple of years ago which isn’t easy to do and last season they gave us a couple of scares. 

“They have some big players and Gary has fought hard to keep hold of players linked with teams higher up but we need to be on it as it will be tricky.”

Ainsworth could welcome a couple of players back this weekend which will ease a lengthy injury list.

He added: “I hope the likes of Sido Jombati, Anthony Stewart and Jack Williams will be back this weekend after missing out with niggles against Swindon.

“Josh Umerah isn’t far away but he has an ankle problem which will likely keep him out for Saturday.”