COLIN Todd has counted one in and one out as Wanderers prepare to step up their promotion bid.

The Burnden boss will tonight welcome back Mixu Paatelainen for his his long-awaited first competitive game of the season.

But he is resigned to being without full-back Scott Green for another four to five weeks as he recovers from surgery to clear a hernia problem.

Green had the operation in London after a specialist advised that rest and treatment was not going to resolve the problem that has kept him on the sidelines since he limped out of the home win against Norwich on August 24.

Paatelainen, out of action since breaking a bone in his foot during the pre-season programme, gets a reserve team outing at Manchester United.

The striker's comeback, combined with Simon Coleman's recent return to Pontins League action, means Todd should soon be in a position to add two experienced names to his squad, which is increasingly becoming the envy of the First Division.

Twenty-nine-years old Paatelainen, whose Premiership appearances were restricted to just 15 because of a series of niggling injury problems, has missed out on international duty with Finland because of his latest lay-off.

Todd said: "It's good to have Mixu back but we'll need to check on any reaction first before we know whether everything is all right."

Wanderers are considering arranging behind-closed-doors friendlies in an effort to give Coleman and Paatelainen the necessary match practice to prepare them for first team returns. After the United game, the Reserves have a 23-day lay off before they are in action again.

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