Central defender Drissa Diallo will get back to action on Wednesday in a behind-closed-doors game the club has arranged against Norwich City. Diallo has been out since September after a knee injury required surgery.
Boss Joe Royle told the club site that Diallo and a number of other players need to get games under their belts: "We have arranged the game to help Drissa and a couple of the young lads in the Academy like Alfie Kamara, who have been out for a while and need match practice.
"Drissa is closing in on a return now after a long time out and it will be a real boost to the squad to have him back in contention again."