Jon Worthington, Joe Colbeck and Ryan Brooke all took important steps on their returns from injury in last night's 4-0 reserve-team victory against Accrington Stanley.

Worthington, who has featured on the bench in the first team, was given an hour-long workout and looked his sharpest yet.

First-team coach Lee Duxbury has been taking the midfield man for extra afternoon training sessions as he bids to regain fitness following four months out with damaged ankle ligaments.

Such was the length of Worthington's absence that the player has had to carry out what is effectively a second pre-season to regain fitness.

Colbeck  took a knock to his ankle after coming on as a substitute against Leyton Orient last Tuesday.

The winger missed Saturday's game against Wycombe and it was felt he would benefit more from playing 90 minutes last night than another cameo at best tonight at Edgeley Park.

It was a similar story for Ryan Brooke who has had a short absence through a hamstring strain. He played the full game and scored twice against Stanley, the two other goals came from  Djeny Bembo-Leta.