WANDERERS could have Will Buckley and Stephen Darby back in the fold for this weekend’s trip to Aston Villa.

Both players returned to training at the start of the week after hamstring injuries but were not included in the squad at Bristol City.

Buckley is hoping to get his Bolton career off the ground after twice being sent for scans to determine the extent of the problem.

The former Sunderland and Brighton midfielder has managed to start just two Championship games thus far since being signed on a free transfer in the summer.

Darby was forced off at half-time in the 3-0 home defeat against Middlesbrough and has also started just twice in the league since arriving from Bradford City.

Wanderers will have Jem Karacan back from suspension but Fil Morais will sit out after picking up a red card in the 2-0 defeat at Bristol City in midweek.

Adam Armstrong could also return to the squad, with Phil Parkinson saying his absence at Ashton Gate was down to experience.

“We left the young lads out because we felt it was a night for the more experienced ones,” he said. “Adam Armstrong didn’t feature in the squad because we wanted the two older strikers on the bench – so that is tough on him but we’ll talk and he’s still got a big part to play for us going forward.”

Ben Alnwick could also return to contention following a neck strain but may yet be kept out of the side by Mark Howard – who was one of Wanderers’ outstanding performers at Bristol.

“Ben picked up a neck problem in the game against Ipswich in a challenge with Joe Garner – almost a whiplash injury,” Parkinson explained. “We got him through Saturday but then he had a recurrence of it.

“We have to make a decision and Ben has generally done well since he’s been in the team but Mark produced a great response.”

Failure to beat Bristol City in midweek meant Wanderers have taken two points from their first 10 games – the worst start by any second-tier club since 1919.

Coventry City drew one and lost nine of their first 10 games in their first season in the Football League but finished 20th and were re-elected.

Malcolm Allison’s Crystal Palace also took two points from 10 games in 1973/74 but suffered relegation.