Defender Martyn Naylor is set for a surprise return to action for AFC Telford United – after making a rapid recovery from a fractured cheekbone.

The 31-year-old suffered the injury when he was accidentally clobbered by his own team-mate Lee Vaughan in the FA Trophy victory at Kettering on January 31.

Initial medical advice was that Naylor, a former Welsh Premier League champion with The New Saints, would have to rest completely for a minimum of three months.

He even had to wear a brace to hold his shattered face together – but the healing process has gone smoothly and a top specialist has now given the versatile right-sided ace the green light to resume training.

Naylor took his first steps to a playing comeback when he joined his team-mates for the pre-match warm-up ahead of Tuesday’s aborted Setanta Shield tie at Barrow.

“He went to see a doctor in Kidderminster who specialises in facial injuries and it turns out the three-month thing was only precautionary,” said boss Rob Smith.

“For a fit athlete, which he is, the recovery period is a lot faster and he’s been given the all-clear. He just needs to get his fitness up now.

“It’s a boost for us – any player that’s fit for this run of games we’ve got coming up is a bonus.

“We’ve got quite a large squad of 20 players or so, but we’re going to need every single one of them.”

Meanwhile, chairman Lee Carter revealed the trip to Barrow is now likely to be re-arranged for either Tuesday next week or seven days later on March 17.

He had initially expected to have to fit it in on a Thursday, but has been delighted by the understanding shown by Conference officials.

“It looks like being one of the next two Tuesdays, which means we would have to re-arrange either the Vauxhall Motors or Blyth Spartans games in the league,” said Carter.

“The Conference haven’t insisted we play it on a Thursday and they’ve taken into account that we’ve got the two legs of the Trophy semi-final coming up – so we are very grateful to them for that.”

By CHRIS HUDSON