That is the explanation from John Green about why he was missing from the reserves' defeat by Spurs on Tuesday night.
He says: "Scott Minto is hopeful of taking part or at least being available for a first team before the end of the season.
"There was a possibility that if he had played in the game he could have made the thigh worse and he didn't want to miss the consistency of training he has had.
"He's trained non-stop since he has been back and he has gradually been increasing the time he has played back in the reserves.
"I think if the game had been tomorrow he would have played, but it was just felt that after all the time he spent out this season what was the point of putting him at risk by pushing him in for a reserve game.
"If everything is sorted and we are safe this weekend or possibly next I think possibly Harry might give him the chance against Middlesbrough just so he has played 90 minutes for the first team and everyone can see he is fit.
"Then he can have a break and come back early - as will all the lads who have been injured - before pre-season starts."
As regards Saturday's trip to Manchester City, he says: "We could be struggling with Igor Stimac because he has a tight hamstring which has been particularly sore in the early part of this week, which could prove a problem.
"So he is going to try that on Thursday because it is the only way of knowing - to see how it feels. It could just be muscle soreness or it could be a slight strain.
"Joe Cole is in a similar situation; he hasn't trained all week as his hamstring was very tight after the last game.
"We have a policy of trying to make them train on a Thursday rather than just leaving it to the Friday, so we know where we stand. I'd say there is a good chance of Joe being OK but I wouldn't like to comment on Igor.
"Joe being younger, tissues are more flexible and tend to be more resilient. With older players hamstring soreness can be more of a problem.
"At this stage of the season we've got to be careful because if we produce anything more than a slight strain we will lose them for the rest of the season. If there is a slight risk for the weekend it is probably not worth taking."
Titi Camara is a major concern, and John says: "Titi
Camara's knee is still swollen, we're just deciding whether
he should have an arthroscopy or not.
"The likelihood is that he will, either in France, or here,
but as we are looking at him being out all summer there's not
an immediate urgency. He'll probably have it next week when we
finalise the details.
"It will be about four months, so we have to make sure there are no silly setbacks, and that he is ready for the start of the season."
Fredi Kanoute is around 50/50 to play at the weekend, reckons Green's colleague John Fearn, who says: "He has bleeding in the muscle, so it is a comfort thing really.
"It is at the junction of the back and the pelvic bone, and is not seriously damaged - it is just about pain tolerance."
Christian Dailly, Shaka Hislop, Craig Forrest, and Rigobert Song are hoping to return from international duty injury free.
Gary Charles and Paul Kitson are now running and should be in
full training next week.