Striker Freddie Sears has declared himself “ready to go, ready for action” having played his second U23s game as he continues his comeback from his ACL injury.
Sears, 30, who has been sidelined since February, played 45 minutes of last week’s 4-1 defeat at Millwall and an hour of yesterday’s 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Playford Road.
"I’m feeling good. I’ve been training for three months now. It’s about getting the final touches. I’m ready to go, ready for action,” the former Colchester and West Ham man told the club site.
"It’s another one ticked off. It’s about building back up, 45 minutes last week, 60 this week. I’m just glad I got the 60 and let’s move onto the next one now."
The striker will hope to be included in Paul Lambert's 18 at Portsmouth on Saturday, although the manager himself has said he is in no hurry to rush previously injured players back.
Also involved on Monday were Ben Morris and Grant Ward, both of whom played an hour as they continued their comebacks after ACL injuries.
Striker Morris will hope to get himself in and around the first-team set-up, perhaps targeting involvement in the Leasin.com Trophy tie at Exeter on Saturday 4th January.
Ward was released in the summer and manager Paul Lambert has said he has no intention of re-signing the versatile former Spurs man on a number of occasions.