TOWN goalkeeper Ian Gray and pacy winger John Thorrington are both hoping to get the green light to step up their bid for a return to Third Division duty.

Broken hand victim Gray will have his pot removed tomorrow while Thorrington, who has had a setback in his recovery from ankle surgery, is set for an intensive training session with physio Lee Martin.

As a reluctant substitute stopper to Phil Senior - Martin is set for a fourth game on the bench at Macclesfield on Saturday - the physio is doubly eager to be told Gray can start to carry out contact work in training.

"Ian is in good shape physically, because he's been able to do all the usual stamina work with the squad," reported Martin, a former Macclesfield player.

"It's just a case of the specialist checking the fracture has healed correctly and that it's okay for him to start handling the ball again.

"Ian will need a bit of time to get his goalkeeper's sharpness back, but all being well, we'll be able to step things up from next week onwards."

Gray, 28, a summer signing from First Division Rotherham who previously played for Stockport, Rochdale and Oldham, had figured in all 22 first-team games this season until sustaining his injury in the FA Cup first-round defeat at Accrington.

While Senior conceded the sole goal of the game at Accrington, Town haven't lost in the three matches since - the 3-1 home win over Hull, 3-3 draw at Mansfield and goalless McAlpine stalemate with Cheltenham.

All seemed well with Thorrington when he appeared as a substitute against Hull.

But in the friendly at UniBond League Harrogate Town a fortnight ago, the 24-year-old American came off feeling pain in the joint on which he had surgery earlier in the season.

"John had a thorough check from the specialist last week, and he diagnosed bruising rather than anything more serious," said Martin.

"A bit of pain isn't that unusual in cases like this, and it's something John will have to put up with as he goes through the recovery process.

"He's been jogging and doing some gym work already this week, and the plan now is to start some heavier training and see how we go."

This afternoon's home Reserve clash with Walsall clearly came too soon for Thorrington, but he could figure at some stage of Monday's Pontins Holiday Premier League home clash against Sheffield Wednesday (2.00).

Midfielder Jon Worthington, who is suspended for the next two Division III games - after Macclesfield, Town host leaders Oxford on Saturday week - is recovering well after surgery on a hernia.

"The operation, during which a mesh is inserted to stengthen the groin muscle, is pretty straightforward these days," explained Martin.

"It's something which needed to be done at some stage, and with Jon being suspended (after his controversial sending off at Accrington) it seemed an ideal opportunity.

"Obviously he'll have to see how he goes back in training, but with any luck, he'll be available for the games between Christmas and New Year."

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