Matthieu Louis-Jean is poised to make his comeback after the best part of nine months on the sidelines this evening when Norwich City Reserves open their campaign in the Pontin's Holidays Combination.

Matthieu Louis-Jean is poised to make his comeback after the best part of nine months on the sidelines this evening when Norwich City Reserves open their campaign in the Pontin's Holidays Combination.

Having finally shrugged off his long-standing hamstring injury, the Frenchman has been pencilled in for a 30-minute run out in the fixture against Oxford United Reserves at Didcot Town (7pm).

“We need to be careful with Matty as he has been out for a long time so that is why we will be bringing him on in the second half when the game has settled down a bit,” explained reserve coach Keith Webb.

“If he comes through the game without any problems then he might be able to start in our next fixture, but it would be wrong to look too far ahead. At this stage it's just a case of easing him back into it.”

Louis-Jean hasn't been seen in the first team since losing his place to Jurgen Colin in the third fixture of last season. He went on to play three reserve fixtures before picking up a serious hamstring injury on the training pitch which ruled him out for the rest of the campaign.

Striker Ryan Jarvis is the only other player with first team experience in Webb's squad of 14 for tonight's game.

Norwich City Res - Lewis, Bexfield, O'Toole, Fisk, Halliday, Cave-Brown, Smart, Martin, El Ouargui, Jarvis, Eagle. Subs: Louis-Jean, Eames, Lathrope.