JAMES BEATTIE is hoping to put himself into contention for the trip to Middlesbrough a week on Saturday with a run-out against the Australian Olympic XI in a private match at Staplewood tomorrow.

It would be his first game for more than four weeks since breaking ribs and puncturing a lung in a fall on the eve of the season.

The injury has also ruled him out of the England Under-21 international against Luxembourg at Reading on Friday night and the young striker is straining at the leash to play tomorrow.

The club have so far protected him to make sure he does not aggravate the problem but if he trains fully today with no reaction then he will get a run.

Manager Dave Jones said: "He is champing at the bit to get back into action and hopefully he will play. All he wants to do is get back in our side.

"I have seen reports linking him with Leeds or Tottenham but we have had no contact whatsoever. We just want him fit and in contention for us." Also hoping to play tomorrow are David Hirst who aims to make a come-back from an Achilles injury and Chris Marsden who is hoping his bruised toe will ease in time.

But the game is just too soon for Matthew Le Tissier still resting an Achilles problem and probably Kevin Davies who missed the 2-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday with a hamstring injury.

Patrick Colleter is still side-lined by a calf strain.

In addition the manager also has David Howells, David Hughes and Richard Dryden to come back from knee operations.

The friendly is strictly closed doors with no fans admitted at the request of the Aussies and even club scouts are having to apply for accreditation.

On Monday Jones made a 500-mile round trip to watch Worthington League Cup oppo-nents Manchester City beat Nottingham Forest 1-0. He said: "It is a tough draw. They are going well and we will have them watched again next week."

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.