Rachubka has made just three outings for Blackpool this season

Blackpool keeper Paul Rachubka's knee injury is not as bad as feared and he has resumed light training.

Rachubka only returned in January after a similar problem and, after suffering a recurrence in training recently, had feared another lengthy spell out.

"It went again and this time the surgeon trimmed it and removed the damage," the 29-year-old told the Blackpool website.

"Hopefully, I'll fully recover and it shouldn't affect day-to-day training."

He added: "I did it in training on the Thursday and by the Saturday it was all fixed because the surgeon had done it quickly.

"It was the best I could have hoped for. I've had a quite quick recovery for what's happened."

The news should come as a relief to Seasiders boss Ian Holloway, whose goalkeeping problems had forced him to recall Mark Halstead from a loan spell at Kettering.

Halstead came on for Richard Kingson to make his Premier League debut in Blackpool's defeat by Chelsea on Monday after the club's only available senior keeper picked up a knock.

But with Rachubka and Matt Gilks, who has been out with a broken kneecap since 13 November, close to a recovery the club's problems on the goalkeeper front are easing.

Rachubka added: "Obviously Matt Gilks is back now, Richard Kingson is doing well and Mark Halstead staked his claim with the minutes he got on Monday.

"Competition is what we all want and I'm sure it's going to give the manager a few headaches."

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