Dublin back in training

CHRIS LAKEY

Dion Dublin is back in training after being diagnosed with a broken bone in his back.

The Canaries striker-defender has a slight facture of T8 - a vertebrae positioned in the middle of his back, sustained during the defeat at Queens Park Rangers a fortnight ago.

Dublin, who once broke his neck whilst playing for Aston Villa, has missed the last two games but, remarkably, may be just a week or two away from a return.

“I can't give you a date, but I know that I am getting better and feeling better and moving about the pitch better than what I thought at this stage,” he said.

“I am not going to put any dates on it, but things are going the right way, definitely.

“It is very frustrating, but the back is one of those things - the back, the neck, you have to make sure that it is right. This is my last season - I don't want the game making me have to leave it, I want to leave it when I think it's right.

“At the moment the back's feeling good and I am looking forward to getting back as soon as possible.”

Caretaker manager Jim Duffy will be happy enough to see Dublin back in training, especially with major doubts over the fitness of left back Adam Drury.

“We haven't had him (Dublin) the last couple of games and you get accustomed to it,” he said.

“Like Adam getting injured - when there are players missing of course you give information to you guys and that is relayed to supporters, but from within the camp you just have to assess it as part and parcel of the job.

“We have been quite severe with injuries from the start of the season, pre-season onwards, so you are just hoping it will clear its feet over the next couple of weeks and maybe we can get a good run with just having a consistent group of players that we can choose from.”

Drury is definitely out of Saturday's game at West Brom because of a tear at the top of his calf, sustained during Saturday's defeat by Bristol City, and is likely to miss the big match at home to Ipswich a week Sunday.

“I'd be majorly surprised if he was ready for the Ipswich game,” said Duffy. “I don't think he will be - although he is such a determined character I just think with the type of injury I will be amazed if he was fit.”

Second choice keeper Matty Gilks was a late withdrawal from the squad at Burnley in midweek after his knee swelled up in morning training. If he's not recovered by this morning, Steven Arnold will deputise. City have Paul Gallacher on loan at Dunfermline and Joe Lewis - currently injured - at Morecambe, but Duffy says it's unlikely either will be recalled.

Midfielder Julien Brellier suffered a slight knock during a reserves outing on Monday but should be available, while Gary Doherty and Mark Fotheringham are still sidelined long term.

Fotheringham, who suffered ankle ligament damage near the end of the home game against Southampton in mid-August, isn't likely to see much action this side of Christmas.

“He isn't close,” said Duffy. “We're probably talking another month before you could look at him even getting back into competitive training. He is doing very light jogging - he's at the fitness stage of the major part of the rehab. His injury has healed up, it is just going to take quite a while to get him back. Obviously the muscle wastage that he has had has to be built up.

“If he is back playing before Christmas it will be a bonus.”