Speaking exclusively to Whites World on Thursday, manager Alan Irvine revealed that striker Chris Brown is getting closer to a first team return and a recent scan has shown that surgical intervention is not required.

Brown has been out of action since leaving the field in the first half against Everton in the third week of pre-season, but the former Sunderland man is now getting closer to a return to training and could get an injection to speed his recovery process.

Speaking on the Club's official online TV channel the gaffer said: "Chris has been for a scan. He has got a sciatic problem and anyone who has had that will realise how uncomfortable that can be and how restrictive it is in terms of people's movement.

"The scan shows there is no need for any surgery, which is obviously great news. We are looking at the possibility of giving him an injection to settle it down and we are hoping that he'll be back in with the full squad very soon."

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