MARK Davies is poised to make his long-awaited comeback for Wanderers in this weekend’s home clash with Norwich City.

Sidelined with a knee injury since early November the 27-year-old playmaker has made significant progress in training and is likely to be part of Neil Lennon’s squad facing the promotion-chasing Canaries on Saturday.

Davies underwent surgery on his right knee in November after making a bright start under Lennon’s stewardship.

And the Whites boss is looking forward to having him back in the fold for the last few games – and more importantly next season.

“We’re looking towards the Norwich game for Davies,” he told The Bolton News. “That will give everyone a huge lift because he is the type of player we have missed.

“We want him fully fit next season but he’s looking very good at the moment so we might just see him out there for a couple of games.”

And it could be a double midfield boost for Wanderers, with Darren Pratley also nearing a comeback before the summer break.

Lennon hopes the influential midfielder could be back out on the pitch for the first time since January 31 when he tore his hamstring playing against Wolves.

Pratley had been one of the Whites’ most consistent players before his injury and his absence has been sorely felt as results dipped in the new year.

But it is thought the 28-year-old – who is also in talks about a new contract at the Macron Stadium – could be in contention to play in the final three games of the season against Brentford, Bournemouth and Birmingham City.

“There’s a chance he could play,” Lennon said. “He is out running now but it was a really bad tear that came right off the tendon. He isn't far away.”

Seeing some light at the end of the tunnel with his long list of absentees, Lennon is looking forward to reassembling a squad for next season.

He is keen to examine any preventative measures which could be taken to avoid the extensive injury problems his squad have suffered in the last few months – which could include re-laying the turf at the club’s Euxton training ground – but reiterated that he is not looking to play the blame game.

“All these injuries have been tough but they haven’t been anyone’s fault,” he said. “When you are sitting there with 12 injuries you think you've run over two black cats.

“We will look at training ground pitches but some people want to make excuses. We have just been unlucky.

“We are very excited about next season. But we want to finish this one as well as we can then have a real go next year.

“There won't be a pot of money to spend. We know that. But we will try to improve on what we have done this season."