Defenders Chris Makin and Drissa Diallo are both set to return to training this week after their thigh and knee injuries. This will come as good news to Joe Royle who has recently had to cope with a long list of players on the sidelines.

Makin is the nearest to action of the pair and could be involved in the home games with Burnley and Stoke next week.

Darren Bent is away with the England U21s but is expected to be OK to face Turkey on Friday despite his recent knee injury.

Town still have Tommy Miller, John McGreal and Martijn Reuser out with knee, back and groin injuries respectively. Miller is not thought to be too far off a return while McGreal is not likely to be back until November.

Reuser has seen another specialist — this time in Holland — and has been recommended a programme of exercises. Should this not help him towards full fitness he could require a hernia operation.

Joe Royle will be concerned at the number of bookings picked up by some of his players. Loanees Chris Bart-Williams and Alan Mahon are both on four, just one away from an automatic one-match suspension, as is striker-turned-defender Richard Naylor.

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