KEITH Branagan is ready to put a summer of fitness problems behind him and start the fight to regain his Wanderers No1 spot. The Reebok keeper made a surprise appearance on the subs bench for last night's Worthington Cup tie against Hull City and has been pencilled in for a game in the reserves tomorrow night.

But as Colin Todd counted one back in, he counted another out with Scott Sellars back on the sidelines after suffering a recurrence of the thigh injury that has already forced him to miss five games.

"Keith was feeling a little under the weather last night but I'd expect him to play tomorrow," the Wanderers boss confirmed.

"But like anybody else, who has had a long spell out with an injury, he'll need games before he's ready to be considered for the first team."

Branagan, who had an operation to clear a hernia problem early in the summer, suffered knee ligament damage in pre-season when it was predicted he would miss the first month of the Division One campaign.

But he has been back in full training for almost a fortnight and is gearing up to put pressure on Jussi Jaaskelainen, who has assumed the No 1 role in his absence, relegating Gavin Ward - currently on loan at Burnley - to third choice.

Clarets boss Stan Ternent has no cash available to fund a permanent transfer but has been given the all-clear to keep Ward for a second month.

"Stan says he would buy him if he had the money!" the Wanderers boss revealed.

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