Mark Robins says he is looking forward to being able to call on James Vaughan’s “physicality” up front once again.

The Town striker showed he is firmly on the comeback trail after the knee operation which had sidelined him since March with a hat trick in the 3-1 Portuguese tour win over Doncaster.

Last summer’s £600,000 buy from Norwich was last season’s 12-goal top scorer despite starting only 23 of 51 matches in all competitions and making three more appearances from the bench.

“A fully-fit James Vaughan is one of the most dangerous strikers in our division so, of course, we have missed him,” said Robins, who is eager to pair him with club-record £1.3m signing Nahki Wells, who scored in the 3-1 friendly win over Limassol at PPG Canalside.

“James provides a physicality which we haven’t really had in his absence, and it will be good to have him back this season.

“Nahki has shown us what he’s about, but it’s been tough for him to plough a lone furrow up front.

“He took up that challenge willingly, his workrate is excellent and the good thing is that he has added another string to his bow by playing that role.”

Bermudian star Wells, 23, has notched seven times in his 22 Championship appearances for Town after scoring 15 times for former club Bradford last season.

 

Both frontmen will continue the countdown to the new campaign when Town face local side SC Portimonense in Albufeira on Saturday (6.00).

Striker Martin Paterson, another of the scorers against Limassol, will also be keen to impress as he bids to get his Town career back on track.

The Northern Ireland international finished last season on loan at Bristol City.

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