



Keith Millen confirmed that striker Connor Wickham had returned to first team training following a spell on the sidelines and would be travelling with the squad up to Birmingham for tomorrow's Premier League clash at Aston Villa.





Wickham last featured during the 2-1 away win at Stoke City in the build up to the busy Christmas period, where he bagged his first goal in red and blue, and has been a big loss for Alan Pardew's side ever since. His return to training will give the Eagles an added threat in the final third, following a return to winning - and scoring - ways at Southampton last Saturday.





"It was good to get Sako back on the pitch, he's been out for a while, but he came through the game [unscathed]," Millen said on the subject of team news. "It's good to see him fit and available.





"Connor Wickham's back in training now. He's obviously not match fit, but slowly the [injured players] are coming back."





Asked whether Yannick Bolasie, Dwight Gayle or Wickham would be back for Villa this week, Millen replied: "Bolasie - definitely not, he's still a while. Dwight Gayle, certainly not, still. Connor Wickham's trained the last few days, so that's pleasing.





"He's had no match time, but he's over his injury and we need out attacking players back because that's what we've missed recently.





"He'll be in the squad," Millen added. "He's going to train today and we'll assess [him]. Medically he's fine, he's over his injury which is great news, [but] he's obviously not had enough training days or match time yet. I'm sure the manager won't risk him too much, but it's pleasing to have him in and around the squad again."



