WILL Hoskins is making rapid progress as the striker recovers from a groin injury.

Just three weeks on from being carried off on a stretcher at Southend United, the 28-year-old is back running.

Appleton, United’s head coach, said: “It’s far better than we had first feared after being stretchered off.

“He’s doing straight-line running, not at full pace. But to think he would’ve been doing that now I’d have said you were mad after seeing him the day after.”

  • Latest United news:

The problem came just four games after spending 18 months out with a knee injury.

It means United will be cautious when he returns to fitness.

Appleton said: “Because of the injuries he’s had in the past, we’ll make sure when he comes back into the set-up he’s played two or three development games and feels as sharp as he possibly could going into it.”

  • Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.