On-loan Gordon returns to training

By Mark Sugar
April 27 2004

On-loan Coventry City full back Dean Gordon has made a surprise return to training after a foot injury.Gordon was expected to miss the rest of the season but news of his return will give Royals manager Steve Coppell a massive boost as he looks to bring Premiership football to Berkshire.

Dean Gordon has made a surprised return to training after a stress fracture foot injury healed quicker than expected.

We reported the news last Friday that Gordon was set to return back to fellow Division 1 side Coventry City after this injury sustained in the fluke 1-0 home defeat to Premiership bound Norwich City on Easter Monday. It was a recurrence of an injury sustained a few years back and it was expected to end his season.

But luckily, Gordon has made a quicker return. He now has a great chance of being in the squad to face promoted West Bromwich Albion at the Madejski Stadium this Saturday.

This will be a major boost for Royals boss Steve Coppell who played Andy Hughes for the full 90 minutes in the 1-0 victory over Millwall at the Den on Saturday. But doubts will remain on Hughes who didn't have a full training session the week before. As we saw with central defender Steve Brown, it isn't the best playing someone when not fully fit. Brown suffered a recurrence of a swollen knee injury which has ended his season early.

Gordon is a left footed player who can play either left back or left midfield. Fellow left back Nicky Shorey hasn't played since the 0-0 draw with Stoke City and won't play again this season.

But the news of a Gordon return will give Steve Coppell a massive boost as he looks to guide the Royals to the Division 1 Playoffs for a 2nd consecutive season.