ROBBIE Elliott will make his long-awaited comeback as Wanderers go in search of lost pride in tonight's Worthington Cup third round tie at Norwich. Fourteen months after breaking his leg on his home debut, the former England Under 21 star has been drafted in on the left of midfield in place of the injured Ricardo Gardner.

That won't be the only change either as Colin Todd looks for a tonic after a sequence of bad results that have seen Wanderers take just two points from a possible 12 and slide to 10th in the table.

Per Frandsen, like Gardner a casualty of Friday's 2-1 defeat at Bristol City, is a doubtful starter and the manager is ready to respond to recent lacklustre performences by making unforced changes against Bruce Rioch's Canaries.

He was keeping details under wraps but he confirmed Elliott's welcome return, which comes slightly ahead of schedule.

A record £2.5 million signing from Newcastle two summers ago, he has had reserve team outings to confirm his recovery from the double fracture sustained in last season's opening game at The Reebok. He was in the squad at Bristol but did not make the subs' bench.

Now Gardner's hamstring injury, suffered after only 10 minutes at Bristol action, has paved the way.

"You never know in football," Todd said, "I told Robbie recently that we couldn't be sure when his time would come but I knew he would be ready when it did." Frandsen, who was concussed and needed stitches in his face after a 21st minute clash with his opposite number Rob Edwards, will undergo a fitness test.

"If he doesn't make it tonight, he will be fit for Sunday," Todd said, looking ahead to the Reebok showdown with Sunderland.

"Ricardo won't, we know that already, and he'll probably also miss the Port Vale game next Wednesday."

On the question of unforced changes, Todd said: "The players need to restore a bit of pride. Some, who played on Friday night, may not get that opportunity tonight.

"I've had to have a long look at things and although I'll be forced to make at least one change with Ricardo being out, there could be others."

The two most prolific strike partnerships in Division One will be judged head to head at Carrow Road. Arnar Gunnlaugsson and Nathan Blake have shared 20 goals for Wanderers this season while Rioch's duo of Craig Bellamy and Iwan Roberts have been equally prolific.

Norwich, who responded to a 5-1 thrashing at Crystal Palace with victories over Ipswich and Huddersfield, have former Celtic centre-back Malky Mackay available after suspension but could stick with Matt Jackson and Craig Fleming. Neil Adams is on standby to play in midfield for the doubtful Peter Grant.

Scott Sellars will continue his recovery from a thigh problem with an outing in the Reserves at Oldham tomorrow.

Wanderers Supporters Association hold their AGM in the Lion of Vienna Suite at 7.45 on Thursday. The speaker is Wanderers Chief Executive Des McBain.

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