WANDERERS hope Darren Pratley will be given the all-clear to return to action within the next fortnight.

The midfielder – who has been side-lined with a fractured ankle since the opening day of the season – could be in contention for a place in the squad by the time the Whites travel to face Chesterfield on December 17.

Pratley’s rehab has gone well and Phil Parkinson revealed he could bring him back ahead of schedule to give the dressing room a timely festive boost.

“Darren has joined in parts of the training and he’s waiting on an X-ray to let him go back into full contact,” he told The Bolton News.

“He’s basically doing everything the lads are and he’s such a fit lad, we’re looking to see whether that X-ray can be brought forward a week – maybe take a little bit of time off so that he can be involved in the Christmas fixtures.

“Even if he was just on the bench coming on for 10 minutes or in the dressing room with the lads, around the squad, it would be great.”

Pratley could make his return to the pitch for the Under-23s, who are due to face Huddersfield Town at Leyland next week.

But Parkinson predicts that it will not be long before the club captain will be competing to regain his spot in the starting line-up.

“He has worked very, very hard with Matt Barrass and his team so physically he’s in a good place, it’s just that last green light from the specialist to say it’s 100 per cent,” he said.

“Darren is a very good athlete and in very good shape so we hope he should be okay to come in quite quickly. He is itching to get back involved and I’m really looking forward to having another good player back in my squad.”

Wanderers are offering fans the chance to buy tickets for Monday night’s home game against Gillingham for just £5. All seats in the home stands will be available for the discounted price.

One player who looks unlikely to feature in the televised clash is Liam Trotter, who is struggling to overcome a groin injury he picked up against Millwall last month.

“It doesn’t look too serious but he had a scan and he’s not quite ready,” Parkinson said. “We’ll give him a bit of time to get completely over it. We certainly wouldn’t want to take any risks.”