WANDERERS midfielder Mark Davies could be just 10 days away from a return to first-team action after nine months on the sidelines.

The 25-year-old played in a behind-closed-doors reserve friendly against Rochdale at the County Ground, Leyland yesterday – his first game-time since February when he suffered cruciate ligament damage to his left knee against Peterborough.

That blow came just after he had returned from a shoulder problem to agree a new deal at the Reebok Stadium.

Davies, who scored six goals in 25 appearances last season, was not expected to return until the new year but has made good progress, returning to full training in the last few weeks.

Now, as long as there is no reaction to yesterday’s 65-minute runout, boss Dougie Freedman could welcome him back into the fold ahead of a busy Christmas schedule.

And that could be as soon as the Championship derby at Wigan on Sunday week.

Freedman said: “Mark Davies played a reserve game behind closed doors.

“He is looking very good in training.

“I have been over-cautious and he maybe could have had a run out before that.

“He is in super condition and there is no problem with his knee at all.

“He has been training for the last month.

“I have him half pencilled in for maybe the Wigan or Charlton game.”

The return of Davies to the fold would be a huge boost for Freedman with Stuart Holden also progressing well in his rehabilitation from his own knee injury and in line for a return early in 2014.