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Wolves captain Danny Batth on comeback trail

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Skipper Danny Batth is on course to return to first-team action next month.

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Batth has been sidelined for four months with a stress fracture to his left foot.

The 24-year-old returned to training earlier this month, although he yet to take part in full training.

Despite being out for so long Batth has missed just six leagues games - two at the end of last season and the first four of the current campaign.

And if his recovery continues as expected the centre half will most likely return in late September.

Head of medical Phil Hayward said the last thing Wolves wanted was to rush Batth back and aggravate the injury.

"Danny's doing really well," Hayward said.

"He's been training outside for the last few weeks now.

"He's very close to getting back into full training.

"I imagine once he does that he needs to train for a good week or so and gradually build him up with under-21 matches.

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"He'll probably need half a game, then an hour, then a full match but I'd expect possibly three under-21 or behind-closed-doors matches before he's ready for the first team.

"The last thing we'd want to do is rush him back.

"He's been out for a long time. Luckily for him he's not missed that many matches due to the timing of it.

"You can't just chuck him back in. You're not completely out of the woods, there's a lot of work to do to stay fit as well, so we'll gradually ease him back over the next few weeks."

Batth had initially targeted a return in time for the start of the season.

Kenny Jackett will be looking forward to having the Brierley Hill-born defender back in the first-team ranks.

Wolves have lacked leadership and experience at times this season and have yet to keep a clean sheet.

Jackett said of Batth's injury progress: "He's been okay.

Danny Batth of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Robert Tesche of Birmingham City.

"I thought it would be September and I'm not sure at what stage, he's not in full training yet, but I still think we're on for September in terms of his return."

Meanwhile midfielder Kevin McDonald will be able to continue playing with a back problem, despite Jackett admitting after Saturday's defeat to Cardiff that the Scot was functioning at around 70 to 80 per cent.

Hayward said the 26-year-old had been carrying the problem for a while and that he is able to manage it.

The head of medical added: "It's something that Kevin manages. It's not a serious problem.

"There's nothing to worry about there.

"It's just something he's had for quite a long time and he has certain things in his routine to help him with it.

"He's been affected by it a bit more in the last couple of weeks but it's not a big concern."