Steve Evans is hoping to have Alex Mowatt back in contention for Monday’s visit of Middlesbrough, with the United midfielder pencilled in to feature in Friday’s Under-21s game away to Sheffield United.

Mowatt is scheduled to play 45 minutes as the Under-21s face the Blades at Stocksbridge Park Steels on Friday afternoon (1pm kick-off), on the back of completing an hour in a behind-closed-doors fixture at Thorp Arch earlier in the week.

The 20-year-old has been sidelined with a thigh injury since last month’s trip to Sheffield Wednesday, but is now close to making a first-team comeback.

Evans said: “We had the Under-21s match postponed over at Crewe on Monday, which Alex Mowatt was due to play in.

“We quickly arranged a very competitive training ground and he got the benefit of an hour in that.

“He’ll certainly play 45 minutes in an Under-21s game against Sheffield United on Friday, and that should fine tune him for Monday against Middlesbrough.

“We’ll have a look at whether he’s ready to start or not, but otherwise the squad will be as we were.

“You have to deal with what you’ve got, but we’ve missed Chris Wood, Gaetano Berardi and Charlie Taylor for long spells.

“We’ve missed Alex Mowatt for two spells and they’re key players. They would be on the team sheet most weeks.

“We’ve been a bit hampered by injuries to key players but we have to deal with it.”

Full-back Gaetano Berardi is also nearing a return, with the once-capped Swiss international set to return to full training next week after recovering from an ankle injury sustained in December’s goalless draw at Charlton Athletic.

“Berardi is edging closer – he’s been working really hard with the medical team this week, twisting , turning, running and going through all the things that you need to do,” Evans said.

“He’s done the maximum time for the recovery and we’re hoping that we’ll have him back on the pitch in full training next week.

“He was one of our best players before he went out injured – he was in top form and you always miss a player with those characteristics.

“We’d like him back sooner rather than later but we’ve given him the maximum time to be ready.”

Asked about striker Chris Wood, who is currently sidelined with a hamstring problem, the head coach added: “Chris is on course. The medical team are working really hard.

“We’ve got to make sure he’s 100 per cent right when he comes back.”