LUCKLESS Matt Barrass can finally see the light at the end of a dark and dismal tunnel after a positive trip to the doctors this week writes Chris Hall

The young defender has been plagued by a series of injury crises in recent years, restricting his first team appearances to just seven last season.

He appeared to have put his latest troubles behind him with a successful run in the senior squad this campaign and was set to take over from the suspended Lee Unsworth for the crucial clash with Cambridge United next month.

His jinx then scythed him down again during an innoccuous training session and it was feared that his knee injury could keep him sidelined for up to six months.

But surgeons this week handed him a lifeline, claiming he could yet play again before the end of the season.

"The news is not fantastic but it's a lot better than we had expected," said relieved manager Andy Preece.

"Matty feared the worst because he has been through all this before and we thought it was going to be a cruciate ligament problem that would keep him out for five or six months. But we have been told it's more like two months now and that's great.

"It's important for both myself and for Matty himself that he comes back before the end of the season. He's a strong character. To get back in the side recently and play as well as he has been is proof of that.

"He's been playing well at sweeper but he can also play as right back, right wing back or even in midfield. So he's a great player to have in the squad.

"Now he just needs a good run in the team. Ironically, he would have had his opportunity against Cambridge and that could have set him up for a first team place for the rest of the season. Who knows how far he could have gone on from there."