Lomy Patient

Steve Lomas is not involved in the reserves game with Nottingham Forest, as had originally been intended, but will seek treatment abroad as he continues his rehabilitation.

"Steve, when he starts training, is one of those that wants to join in and start playing matches without building up," explains Trevor Brooking.

"He has pushed it possibly a little bit much in the last 10 days and got sore in a couple of the training sessions.

"He has seen a specialist and they just want him to rest for a week and then send him to a rehabilitation place abroad for about 10 or 12 days, which we think could benefit Steve.

"Having waited this long for him to be right we want to make sure he is, so that would take him through to early November when he will start joining in.

"On that basis we are probably looking at the second half of November before we would have him, whereas we were hoping to have him before the end of this month originally.

"It is worth being patient and for the sake of an extra two or three weeks it is worth making sure it is right; Steve is one of those that has to play to his maximum fitness with his chasing around and working hard so he needs to be able to reach that level that we want him to be.

"It is a two or three week setback but generally the op that he had about a month ago has been successful, and the actual injury itself is clear and there is gradual rehabilitation work now so he can cope with the level of fitness that is needed."