Crusaders boss Stephen Baxter has revealed influential forward Ben Kennedy is nearing a return for the Shore Road men.
Kennedy has been missing since August after suffering a knee injury against Glentoran at the BetMcLean Oval.
The 25-year-old, who scored 15 goals and had 13 assists last season, pulled up sharply after taking a corner just 15 minutes into the Premiership clash.
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Kennedy could return to action for Crusaders' reserves next Monday night, some five months after limping off in East Belfast.
Baxter said: "We are hoping Ben will play a reserve game on Monday which will be his first taste of football since the second or third week in August, at the Oval that night.
"He has been training hard out on the pitch and hasn't had any problems. He has joined in with the 5-a-sides the past two weeks and no reaction to the knee which is good news.
"So now he has to step onto the pitch. We were considering a game against Newry last night but we didn't take the risk on the pitch that game was being played on.
"So we held him back for a game on this pitch with the reserves next Monday night. So he will get a game, and when he gets through that then we might see him returning to first-team action in some capacity, whether that is from the bench or we will bleed him in."
Baxter - whose Crues sit fourth in the Premiership and beat champions Linfield on Tuesday night - added: "Ben hasn't played a lot and he needs some games, but the physios and doctors will guide us. Stats and other things come into it.
"We will take an extra week or two if necessary, and it might take a couple of reserve games before we see him back."
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