DARREN Pratley is ready to make his Wanderers return just SIX WEEKS after fracturing his leg against Hull City.

The all-action Bolton skipper returned to full training yesterday and could make a surprise return to Phil Parkinson’s squad on Saturday at QPR.

Pratley cracked his fibula against Hull City on New Year’s Day but has been hard at work with Bolton’s medical staff to prove his injury has healed.

He has missed just six games, five in the league, during which time the Whites took five points and edged away from the bottom three.

Before his injury, Pratley had found a rich vein of form alongside Karl Henry at the base of Wanderers’ midfield.

“We have missed Darren,” said Phil Parkinson after Tuesday night’s defeat in Cardiff. “He was exceptional for us before he got injured and while the points return has not been bad with him in the team we welcome him back with open arms because he’s a real leader.

“Daz leads by example. He does all the horrible things on a football pitch that you have got to do, wins headers, second balls, gets up to the opposition quickly to stop them playing. When he’s ready he’ll be back in the team.”

Parkinson would not set a date on the midfielder’s return but the relatively short space of time on the sidelines means he could be available for selection at Loftus Road.

“He has done a lot of work over the last couple of days,” said the Whites boss. “We will look at how he does in training and then make a decision from there, but it’s good to have him back available because he has been important for us.”

Wanderers have been linked with a move for ex-Everton and Sunderland striker Victor Anichebe – now a free agent since leaving Chinese club Beijing Enterprises last month.

Registration issues are understood to be a problem for the 29-year-old in the current window but Parkinson killed the speculation dead, insisting: “There’s nothing to say. There is no-one coming in.”