CHRIS Makin may make an earlier than expected return by playing for the Town reserves against Charlton tonight.The Blues defender has recovered well from a thigh strain and Steve McCall has delayed announcing the squad until this morning to see if Joe Royle gives Makin the nod.

CHRIS Makin may make an earlier than expected return by playing for the Town reserves against Charlton tonight, writes Derek Davis.

The Blues defender has recovered well from a thigh strain and Steve McCall has delayed announcing the squad until this morning to see if Joe Royle gives Makin the nod.

If he gets the go-ahead and feels no adverse reaction, then the Manchester-born utility back could force his way into the first-team squad travelling to Bradford on Saturday.

Makin was not expected to return to action until next week to face Burnley on Tuesday at the earliest, so this would be a major boon for Town.

But Town fans hoping to see Hermann Hreidarsson turn out for the Addicks' reserves after coming back from a knee injury are in for a disappointment as he is in Hamburg with Iceland where he faces a dilemma.

Iceland will meet the Germans in the AOL Arena in Hamburg on Saturday evening knowing that a victory would secure qualification for next summer's European Championship finals in Portugal.

If Hreidarsson's team can take all three points, Iceland will qualify for the finals of a major competition for the first time in the country's history.

The former Blues' favourite hasn't played for the Addicks since damaging his knee during training in the middle of September and he realises that he needs to exercise a little caution.

He admitted: “I'm going to go and see how the knee is and play it by ear.

“It's obviously a massive game. It's one of the biggest in the country's history, and I'd love to be involved, but rushing back from the injury wouldn't be fair on Charlton.

“I may be able to play some part in the game, but if the knee is not right I will not play at all, which will be difficult because it's such an important match for Icelandic football.

“At the end of the day, if I am not fully fit, Iceland would be better having 11 players on the pitch rather than 10-and-a-half, so I have to be sensible.”

If Makin makes it he will undoubtedly be the oldest Town player, even if Andy Marshall keeps his place in goal. Striker Alun Armstrong may also be given a run-out but the squad is likely to mainly comprise of starlets such as Matt Bloomfield, Dean Bowditch, Gerard Nash and Ian Westlake.

The first team tee-off for a golf day at Stoke-by-Nayland this morning after a team bonding session last night.