MIDFIELD man Jon Senior is set to make a long awaited return from injury tonight in Radcliffe Boro's home Lancashire ATS Trophy second round meeting with top Unibond Premier Division side Barrow.

The former Leigh RMI player appeared to have earned himself an automatic place in the Boro starting line up at the start of this season. Unfortunately it wasn't to be, as a bad knee injury has seen him laid up since early October. He has made steady progress building his training up gradually over recent weeks and manager Kevin Glendon is set to give his fitness the ultimate test In a match situation.

Glendon explains: "Jon has been out a long while and there is no way you can rush injuries like that. He's been training hard for some time now and at the weekend he said to me that he could do with a game somewhere.

"He was thinking perhaps I could organise a loan deal for him at a lower level but I've decided he may as well try it out here with us. He will feature at some point tonight but whether that's from the start or later on I've yet to decide."

Tonight's visitors are revelling in a fantastic season. At just past the halfway point the Cumbrian club's lead at the top of the Division 1 table is a massive 12 points with the last four outings ending in victories.

This competition presents the Boro with a last opportunity to keep in the hunt for a trophy as the league competition looks absolutely certain to be a relegation fight right to the wire.

Top Boro signing of the last week of '97, Tony Carroll, is set to make his home debut. Barrow have a strong following and a large crowd is expected at Stainton Park. The match kicks off at 7.30pm.?

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