Sammy Clingan could be back for Coventry City in time to play some part in the festive season fixtures.
The 26 year old Northern Irishman has been out of action after suffering a knee ligament injury i over a month ago, but he has made good progress and is now expected to figure in Aidy Boothroyd's Christmas planning.
The vastly improved and influential defender Ben Turner, who suffered a similar, though more serious knee ligament injury, will not be ready to return to the action until January.
The Coventry City manager Aidy Boothroyd confirmed to the CT: "Ben is still a bit of a way off and his was worse than Sammy's but hopefully he will be back in January.
"Sammy is progressing well but we have got to be careful with them both and make sure we don't rush them but, certainly, we hope to have Sammy back in time for Christmas. That is the time when you really have to manage your squad."
"We have got nine games in 28 days or something so we have got a lot of football and we have to make sure everyone is ready to go."
At the moment Boothroyd is more interested in who is fit and ready to play as he prepares for a busy few weeks.
He said, "I am more interested in the ones who are fit and as much as I do value the injured lads who are working hard to get back into the team and contribute, it is the lads who are playing, the likes of Michael Doyle and making sure he's right because he can play at the moment."
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