Northampton manager Stuart Gray has confirmed that talismanic striker Adebayo Akinfenwa is on the comeback trail after suffering injury.The burly forward has been out with a calf problem since the end of October but remains the Cobblers' top scorer with eight goals and Gray is keen to nurse him back gently.

He said: "Bayo took part in the warm-up before training on Thursday but we don't want to rush him.

"We've pencilled him in for a reserve game next week but the most important thing is for us not to take any risk with him because what we don't want is for him to end up back on the treatment table.

"It can be very soul destroying at times when you are out injured and I've experienced that myself. Nobody ever wants to be injured and as a professional footballer you just want to be playing.

"There is a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel for Bayo now though and when we do have him back it will be like having a new signing."

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