Rowan Vine has been given the go ahead to return to light training as he continues to recover from his broken leg.

Vine was initially said to be facing more than six months on the sidelines after a training ground clash with reserve keeper Matt Pickens left him nursing a couple of nasty fractures. However he has astounded the medical staff with his comeback so far and was seen on the pitch after the last game of the season walking without crutches.

Vine will be back in hospital in a fortnight to have the screws removed from his shin but can now begin running again and may not miss too much of next season after all.

Physio Paul Hunter told the club’s official website: “He’ll be in for daily double sessions on the trampette and combine that with the continued strength work he’s been doing on his leg. Rowan has really kicked on in the last couple of weeks and we’re delighted with the progress he is making. His attitude has been first class and we couldn’t have wished for anything more at this stage of his recovery.”

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Not such good news for Zesh Rehman though who having been named as the Pakistan captain for their forthcoming South Asian Football Federation Cup matches has been ruled out of the opening match against the Maldives with food poisoning. Rehman should return to the side on Thursday when Pakistan face India.

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The Carling Cup draw will take place next Friday (the 13th for the superstitious amongst you) and QPR fans can find out who we’ll be losing to in the first round next season by logging onto LoftforWords from 10am. Thanks to the unique way the League Cup First Round is seeded QPR are almost certain to be playing Northampton Town. Again. The fixtures for the forthcoming season will be released three days later and we’ll do our best to hint at who we might be playing, or might not, on some days, or perhaps not, as much as Dataco and their draconian rules will allow us.

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