We spoke to Nick Reid in a quieter than usual Egerton treatment room ahead of the Silkmen's trip to Wycombe.

"We've just got the two out of action at the moment" he told us. "Richard Butcher and Ricky Sappleton are both still out with hteir knee injuries, but both gettting closer to a return."

"Starting with Richard Butcher, he is back running now and still looks very fit, but he is still not quite right with the twisting and turning of a match so needs more time to get all the strength and flexibility back in his knee. I think another week to 10 days before he will be back in contention.

"Ricky Sappleton meanwhile is now back in full training. His knee is still swelling up after heavy sessions, but today was the lightest reaction I've seen from it since the injury which is encouraging. But without a pre-season and a long time out injured he still has work to do to get back to match fitness."

And what about the others who have been out for a while?

"I've not had any complaints from any of the others so they are fully fit and raring to go."