Jamie Devitt making excellent progress and could return far sooner than first thought
SHRIMPS' boss Jim Bentley says Jamie Devitt is making excellent progress and could return to action far sooner than first thought.
Devitt suffered a hamstring injury in the draw against York and was expected to be ruled out until Christmas.
But the influential midfielder has returned to light training and could even be ready for a recall for the trip to Stevenage a week on Saturday.
Bentley said: "Jamie has been making great progress and he is going to start light training again in the next few days.
"We are hoping that he could be back in action for the time we play Stevenage which would be a real boost as he is an important player for us.''
Morecambe will be without Tom Barkhuizen who has returned to Blackpool after his loan spell with Bentley saying he was pleased with a forward's contribution at the Globe Arena.
He said: "Tom came to us needing games and he did well. He was getting fitter all the time and was excellent in the reserves last week.''
There is some bad news for the Shrimps however in that Padrag Amond, Jack Sampson and Aaron McGowan are all out of contention for the trip to Fratton Park on Saturday.
Amond injured his ankle in the Reserves' win over Tranmere last week while Sampson has seen a specialist about a foot injury and has been told to rest for up to two weeks.
McGowan is out for a month with a lateral ligament of the knee injury.