Cheltenham have received a fitness boost with Michael Townsend on course to begin pre-season training with the rest of the squad.The defender underwent an ankle operation in the second half of the campaign after it was established an illness would keep him sidelined anyway.

"Michael Townsend saw the doctor and he has been given the thumbs up to start running after his ankle operation," club sports therapist Ian Weston told the club's official website. "He is on schedule to begin the first day of pre-season training."

However, the news is not so good for skipper John Finnigan, who faces a second operation on his injured heel and is expected to return to full training by mid-August.

Weston added: "John saw a specialist and he is going to have surgery this weekend to remove some scar tissue and loosen the ligament.

"This should push his recovery on again because John has been able to get only so far before feeling some more discomfort. If all goes well he may have to miss the first couple of weeks of the season but I would hope to see him back in training in mid-August."

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