CHRIS LAKEY Peter Grant has admitted that players may have to be pushed back into action prematurely as he seeks to combat the effects of lingering selection problems.

CHRIS LAKEY

Peter Grant has admitted that players may have to be pushed back into action prematurely as he seeks to combat the effects of lingering selection problems.

City physio Neal Reynolds has been working overtime of late, but Grant says some players may have to forego the routine of getting back to full match fitness.

"Needs must at this moment in time and some guys will come to the fore probably quicker than anticipated and quicker than I like to put them in," he said.

The situation has already occurred with Lee Croft, whose return from an ankle injury heralded an immediate return to the first team, while Grant may be tempted to do the same with Luke Chadwick, who returned to full training yesterday for the first time since injuring his knee on his debut at Ipswich in mid-November.

Saturday's trip to Barnsley is likely to be too soon for Chadwick, who Grant wants to see at full stretch on the training fields first.

"I think it is important to do a lot of psychical work before they come in," he said. "It is something I have to look at Lee about because he played so many games and you get so sore - he came straight back in right away.

"With his injury he was out for six weeks, but he came straight in without a reserve game or anything, and it is a lot to ask him to continually play.

"That was one of the reasons on Saturday I said he would probably not play in a fitter team. I know there is a possibility with Lee playing every game close to the edge as he is that he could end up picking up injury and the last thing I need is another boy injured, so I have got to be careful with that."

Chadwick's return to training was a welcome sight, even though the midfielder's presence doesn't solve Grant's immediate selection problems in attack.

"Knowing Chaddy he will want to be involved tomorrow, but he forgets he has been out three and a half months," said Grant.

"He is desperate to get involved, but we have to be careful with him.

"The injury is fantastic, the scarring and all that is excellent, but it was such a bang on his knee that the bruising he had on his bone was the biggest problem for us.

"He seems to have got through that now, he has no problem with that, he is doing everything we are asking of him.

"It will great to have him back, but obviously the position I could do with is further up the pitch."