Nat Sylvester's City Slicker column

GOOD news for Darren Middleton who has been told he will not need surgery on his injured knee.

The midfielder has been given the green light to step up training and he could soon be linking up with Leon Jackson, who has an impressive strike-rate as a midfielder with 31 goals from his last two seasons at Bilston Town.

As a youngster Jackson also formed a lethal strike partnership with a certain Mark Owen for a youth team called Cresswell. The pair played both together and against each other in the Willenhall and Bloxwich leagues around Wolverhampton.

"In the under 10s he played for Bushbury and I played for Cresswell but then he later joined Cresswell and we played up front together," said Owen.

Neither Owen or Jackson could remember who scored the most goals during their days as a striking duo although being a typical goal poacher Owen claimed he had.

City's injured striker was impressed with Jackson's debut against Newport County and predicts a bright future at St George's Lane for the 23-year-old.

"He always had a great engine and he looked very quick and sharp and I think he can do a great job at this level," added Owen. "And judging by his performance on Saturday he could go even higher."

Jackson's abilities are not just confined to his boots, illustrated by the fact he is in the final year of a computer degree course at Wolverhampton University.

Meanwhile, Owen's recovery continues with the removal of the pins from his broken leg. He expects to be off crutches and walking unaided next week.

Keeper Danny McDonnell, who clattered Crawley Town Nigel Brake with a high challenge in the recent 1-0 defeat at Crawley Town, phoned up to enquire after the stricken player, but learned things could have been a lot worse for the Reds' winger.

Brake had just recovered from a fractured cheekbone but fortunately it was the other one that McDonnell damaged.

Back on the home front Andy Ellis could be back in action in two weeks and not six as was first feared after he was injured against Moor Green.

The midfielder has sustained some ligament damage but said he was hoping to be running by next week.

City's scouts have been running checks over Westfields' teenage full back Paul Price who has also attracted the attentions of several league clubs including Wolves and Swansea.