WES FLETCHER’S wish to return to action from his lengthy injury absence may come quicker than he imagined, writes Steven Back.

Fletcher, who has been out since March when he suffered knee ligament and cartilage damage in City’s 1-0 win at Portsmouth, has been optimistically eyeing a comeback in tomorrow’s home opener against Northampton.

With Ryan Jarvis out after the ankle rap suffered in the Capital One Cup exit to Doncaster and summer recruit Jake Hyde still trying to shake off a training injury that has kept him out of that tie and last week’s starter at Tranmere, Fletcher may come into the reckoning.

The 23-year-old has been put through his paces on the training ground, declaring: “The gaffer (Nigel Worthington) and the physio (Jeff Miller) have said it may be a couple of weeks and I’ll be back if I’m all fit and well. But I would like to be there or thereabouts for tomorrow.”

Despite his injury Fletcher still finished the Minstermen’s top marksman last season, a pedigree that will be greatly welcomed back.

Added the former Burnley man: “We’re going to take it slow as I’ve had no game time, but when (I come back) I would expect to play about 15 minutes (from the bench).”