DARREN Pratley could make his return from injury in Monday night’s development squad game against Charlton Athletic.

The club skipper has featured just once this season, picking up an ankle ligament injury on the opening day against Derby County.

Pratley signed a new three-year contract in the summer before being officially installed as the new captain in pre-season.

But after seven weeks on the sidelines, the 28-year-old returned to training at the start of the week and is now being eased into action with Iain Brunskill’s Under-21s, who are currently pencilled in to play at the Macron Stadium.

Neil Lennon admits he can’t wait to see the midfielder back in full swing after an unfortunate run of injuries that stretched back to January.

“He has been a really big loss for us, and that applies right back to January last season when he did his hamstring,” said the Wanderers boss.

“We could do with having him back because he has that presence and athleticism on the pitch. That’s what you need in the Championship. The sooner we get him back the better.

“He is out on the grass running now and doing cardio-vascular work. He is not far away but because he’s been out for so long he may need a couple of reserve games or behind-closed-doors games to get up to speed.

“So I have a rough idea, maybe two weeks, but he’s moving in the right direction.”

David Wheater’s return to fitness has come at the perfect time for Lennon, who is without two senior defenders for today’s clash with Brighton.

Derik Osede is suspended and Dorian Dervite out for another couple of weeks with an ankle problem.

Wheater was one of three players injured in the home game with Reading in March but has worked hard with the club’s medical staff to conquer problems with his hamstrings and back.

That rehab has not been without its problems, and an Achilles injury has slowed his progress over the last few weeks.

Lennon is keen to keep the former Middlesbrough man fit and is expected to put him in from the start against the league leaders at the Macron this afternoon.

But he admits Wheater’s longer-term fitness will still have to be very carefully monitored by the sports science team.

“We need to manage what he’s doing,” he said. “He came back in pre-season but then got a hamstring problem, and then his Achilles.

“He’s had a very rough time with injuries but he’s looking okay now and obviously the more training and matches he plays, the sharper he’ll get.

“He’s another one who has that pedigree and that experience.

“Centre-half is a position we’ve done well in this season with Prince and Derik playing well, Dorian as well, but there’s no problem at all with having some strength in depth.”

Wheater made 21 appearances last term but has missed the last four pre-seasons, which club staff believe have contributed to the number of minor injury problems he has encountered during the regular season.