Donovan Ricketts prepared for his City return and admitted: The last two months have moved like a snail.

The big Jamaican will be back between the posts at Port Vale tomorrow after missing the last 11 games.

"Time has gone very, very slow," he said. "It has gone like a snail for me but finally I can make my return.

"I'm used to having to wait, it's always something like that with me. But I'm always prepared mentally for anything."

Ricketts came through a reserve outing on Wednesday - his first action since limping off at Rother-ham with a broken bone in the top of his foot eight weeks ago.

He added: "The foot is okay. Maybe not quite 100 per cent but it feels all right and I'll just try not to get injured again.

"There have been a lot of games while I've been out. Some weeks I've been treated to good football, others have not gone so well."

Colin Todd will be hoping that the imposing presence of 6ft 7in Ricketts will tighten up a defence that has let in 14 goals in the last seven matches.

He claimed two clean sheets in the three full games he played at the start of the season before the injury struck. Only Chesterfield and League Two Rochdale have failed to score against City since.

Ricketts said: "If we can get in a good month with a few wins under our belt then we'll be back in

contention and this team has the ability to do that."

Dean Windass also comes straight back into the side after being banned against Huddersfield.