JAMIE Walker has given City a huge boost by making a first playing appearance since his summer knee surgery.

Walker came through a shortened game behind closed doors that was arranged to step up his recovery.

It was the Scot’s first action on the pitch since the opening day of the season and Mark Hughes is delighted with his progress following the lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Hughes said: “He’s been back training a week and a half and we’re trying to get some game time into him, which we’ve been able to do.

“He probably looks in better shape than we thought he would be when he came back, not in terms of his physical condition, which we knew would be fine, but with his football.

“It’s not like he’s easing himself in, he’s full pelt as you would imagine straight away.

“It’s difficult for Jamie to ease himself back in but we’ll just make sure he’s sound and okay.

“We had a game behind closed doors with the intention of giving Jamie some minutes and the lads who haven’t had much game time of late.

“It was only 45 minutes or so and hopefully he won’t get a reaction. We don’t anticipate that because he got through it fine.

“Hopefully he’ll continue to get minutes under his belt now.

“We’ve just got to make sure that when we introduce him it’s at the right level and with the appropriate amount of game time.”

News of Walker’s imminent return will further lift spirits around the club ahead of Saturday’s fourth-against-third home tussle with Northampton.

Tyreik Wright was also back in training today after the muscle spasm that kept him out of the Sutton game.

Hughes will continue to pace Walker’s comeback and the competition for places means there is no need to push him too soon.

The City boss added: “You’re conscious that if somebody’s had an injury that’s taken them out for a number of weeks, sometimes you are susceptible to little niggles that can set you back.

“It’s always a worry but as long as we can avoid that, then he should be back relatively soon.

“We can bring him on at the correct pace and hopefully not put him in any danger of having a setback.

“We’ve obviously done okay (without him) but then you look at some games and the ability of Jamie and think that he might have made the difference in some games.

“He was a big player for us last year and we haven’t seen him this season

“But it’s great to have him back. He’s not quite there yet but he’s not a million miles away and it’s going to be like a new signing.”