WANDERERS should have MJ Williams back in the side to face Hartlepool United in the Papa John’s Trophy.

The midfielder had been side-lined with Covid but was asymptomatic and returned to training on Monday morning showing no after-effects of the virus.

Kieran Lee is still testing positive and has symptoms but there were no new positive cases after the latest round of tests.

Striker Dion Charles could feature, although Ian Evatt is wary of pushing the Northern Ireland man too quickly after his recent lack of games at Accrington.

A contract dispute at the Wham Stadium left him out of John Coleman’s side, with his last club appearance made on September 11 at Sunderland.

“He is going to be a huge player for us and we have made an investment with him,” Evatt said. “He will be a valuable asset, going forwards, but there is an air of caution because he hasn’t played loads in the last couple of months and the last thing we want to do is go too soon, break him down, and then be left in the lurch.

“We will make a decision on what part he plays tomorrow but the positive thing is that he is available.

“We have got players returning all the time and the squad is starting to look a bit stronger now. It is obviously not 100 per cent – that will come with training and game time in the next week or two – but for now we are looking in a much better place than we were a couple of weeks ago, and in the last couple of months.”

Wanderers will not be able to name Xav Amaechi, who has extended his loan spell from Hamburg, or Ronan Darcy, back from his spell in Norway, because international clearance has not yet been granted by the Football Association.

But the club could name a new signing in the squad if paperwork is completed on time.

Evatt says he is still planning to bring in three new players during the January window.

“We have three more that we want to bring in and we’re doing the best we can with those,” he said.

“We won’t be held to ransom and everything we’re doing is strategic, within our means.

“It now literally depends on whether the parent clubs decide whether they are available or not, and how quickly they can replace who we are after.

“But we have worked very hard on these and the board have been fantastic helping us with these plans. Hopefully we will have a few more in the building asap.”