TOM CLARKE is aiming to become the third Town player to emerge from the treatment room and push for a December return to first-team duty.
Skipper Jon Worthington, who has had groin surgery, and left-sided schemer Robbie Williams, who has recovered from a fractured shin, are close to full match fitness.
Both will have another sharpener when the reserves take on Leicester City tonight (7.00).
And Clarke, who had a left knee reconstruction 12 months ago, will join them in the starting side for the Pontin’s Holiday’s League Central Division fixture, which takes place at Hinckley United’s Marston Stadium.
It’s an important milestone for the England junior centre-back, who turns 20 on December 21 and who has watched elder brother Nathan re-establish himself in the first team after a nasty knee injury of his own.
He appeared to be making good progress on the comeback trail in August and early September, when he played four reserve matches and was on the bench for five consecutive first-team games, coming on during the 4-1 Johnstone’s Paint Trophy defeat at Grimsby, who visit the Galpharm in the second round of the FA Cup on Saturday.
But he began to suffer aches in the joint and was told to rest, then follow a specially formulated training regime.
“Tom has been very patient and has worked really hard on his rehab,” said Town boss Andy Ritchie, who has been nominated along with Nottingham Forest’s Colin Calderwood and Walsall’s Richard Money for the League I manager of the month award after four wins from five in November.
“He was obviously down after his setback, but he got his head down and kept plugging away and he’s looking fine.
“It was great to see him play in our practice match at Salford College last week, and I know he enjoyed that work-out.
“A year is the anticipated recovery time after this operation, so he was ahead of schedule previously.
“Now we can hopefully push on and have him competing for a first-team return in the very near future.”
Michael Collins and Chris Brandon, who were both on the bench as Town lost 1-0 at home to Leyton Orient in League I on Saturday, will also be involved tonight alongside fellow midfielder Matt Young.
