Strike star Sam 'looks strong' as he edges closer to comeback

AM Gallagher will sit out of a planned comeback game with Stoke City under-21s to instead train with the first team and be available for the first time this season.

- 

The 30-year-old striker had been pencilled in to feature for the 21s against Nottingham Forest at Gresty Road on Monday evening but he has looked sharp enough in training that Mark Robins will keep him with the seniors to be available against Norwich City the following Saturday.

Steven Nzonzi has been training with the 21s as he steps towards fitness and a second debut.

The 36-year-old midfielder will join in parts of training with the first team next week with a view to be in full training the following week.

Robins, when asked if he might use 21s games to help returning players get game time, said: "In some cases we will but in some others (not).

"For instance, Sam was due to play some minutes on Monday in that game but I'm not going to do that. He is looking strong and to train with us for the week takes him into availability for the Norwich game.

"That gives us another option and another really good player to welcome back without really having played any minutes in a game.

"How much is he going to get out of that (21s game)? I'm not sure because training is really intense anyway.