MARK Fish began the road to recovery today.

The £2m central defender joined up with his Wanderers team-mates for the first time since suffering a knee injury after the Reebok draw with Spurs a fortnight ago.

Manager Colin Todd said the signs were encouraging that Fish is on the mend but refused to put any time scale on his recovery.

"Mark starts his rehabilitation with us today and we will obviously give him as long as it takes for him to get right. He'll be back when he's back."

Fish was admitted into hospital in the early hours of the morning after the Spurs game where he had an exploratory operation which showed no ligament or cruciate damage."

Wanderers will take their strongest team available for tonight's friendly to mark the opening of Rochdale's new 2,700-seater East Stand.

Gerry Taggart, who is away on international duty, and the injured Alan Thompson and Michael Johansen will not make the short trip to Spotland. Boss Colin Todd explained: "We are doing a favour for Rochdale and a full squad will be going there."

Summer signing Neil Cox is expected to get a run-out after being sidelined with a hamstring injury he sustained early in the season.

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