Midfielder Jones, laid low by a thigh strain and a bout of tonsillitis recently, scored in the second string's 3-1 defeat at Scunthorpe last night and produced an impressive all-round display which could lead watching boss Chris Turner to recall him for Saturday's home League One clash with Leyton Orient.

Assistant boss Colin West said: "I was going to take him off, but he just looked as though he was enjoying his football. I kept asking if he was OK, but he was still working hard so I let him get on with it!

"He is working tremendously hard to do the things which we think will improve him as a player.

"When he picks the ball up and is positive with it, he looks a totally different player."

James Brown (knee) returned to training yesterday and may earn a place on the bench against Orient although Leon McSweeney (foot) is expected to be a longer absentee.

Ben Clark made a third successive reserve start after his hernia operation.