Solly due back in December

The 22-year-old’s season has been blighted by a knee problem which has kept him out since August, although he is currently taking part in light training at Sparrows Lane.

But while pleased with how Solly is progressing, Powell this morning poured cold water on the suggestion the youngster could possibly be back as early as after the international break.

“No, because of the time he has been out I still feel he would need a good two or three weeks of full training and then maybe two or three games before we can consider him,” the Valley boss said.

“Really I’m thinking the beginning of December.

“Chris Solly is coming on well, he is outside now doing a bit of running, he is OK and progressing well.”

Lawrie Wilson has more than impressed during Solly’s absence and Powell could face a welcome dilemma once the injured player finally is available for first team selection.

The manager admitted: “Well, let’s hope I have that decision to make because then Chris will be fit and that will make us stronger.

“Lawrie Wilson has been one of the unsung heroes.

“I know it is very easy to sort of dismiss that full-back position, as I know in my career, but he has come in, he has handled every wide player.

“He has shown people he is quick, he is strong runner, can get up and down but one v one he has been excellent, he has covered well.

“He has been a real rock alongside Michael Morrison, who has been really strong.

“Equally on the other side Rhoys Wiggins has been in real good form, has struck up a really good relationship with Cameron Stewart on that side, and also with Richard Wood and now Dorian Dervite.

“Dorian has fitted in seamlessly because Woody had done really well, but Dorian came in last week against a difficult customer in Zigic and him and Michael Morrison really handled him well.

“I think they’ve all played particularly well.”

Powell added: “Lawrie has played well, I think Dale Stephens has shown what he is about.

“Jordan Cousins is just getting better by the game, he is doing a role that may not be as eye catching as scoring and getting in the final third but positionally he has been outstanding.

“When you just add in Bradley Pritchard’s industry with sort of playing him more narrow, people may think it is a 4-4-2 but actually we don’t want to be too open at the moment because of the position we were in.

“So we’ve got Bradley who can help out in the middle of the park and because of his industry he can make it out wide, but we’ve got Cam Stewart sort of doing the one v one stuff and beating his full-back.

“We’ve Johnnie Jackson in now, Simon Church and obviously one or two lads to come back things are looking on the up for us and we’ve got to continue to work hard to stay there.”

Powell also has a decision to make on whether to risk striker Yann Kermorgant in this weekend’s Valley meeting with Leeds .

He revealed: “Yann is now outside, he is striking balls but we do have two weeks after this and a big week coming up.

“We don’t leave London now this month with Leeds and then after the break we’ve got QPR away, the rearranged Doncaster game and Ipswich right at the end of the month.

“It is touch and go with Yann (for Saturday) and it is a case of do we put him in from the start or on the bench, or do we just kind of wait.

“Hopefully he will get stronger day by day and then be ready to fly out of the traps come the QPR game.”

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