Alex Jones is hoping to re-join full training with City on Thursday after his hip injury.

But the striker will not be back in time to face former club Port Vale next weekend.

Jones, who scored ten goals in 21 appearances on loan for Vale earlier this season, has missed the last five games.

He has spent the last two days building up his fitness with physio Dayle Avison.

Stuart McCall is now looking to get him back with the main group but will not rush anything.

He said: “Saturday will be too soon for Alex. Doing a bit of running with the physio is very different to joining with the rest but the signs look promising at the moment.

“Hopefully Alex is on the mend and will be available again before too long.”

Mark Marshall, another Vale old boy, is recovering from a tight hamstring and Josh Cullen has been nursing a knock from the Bolton game.