Parkinson on the road to recovery

Parkinson's former clubs include Tranmere and Sheffield United

Cambridge United boss Gary Brabin says he expects midfielder Andy Parkinson to be available for selection before the end of the season.

The 29-year-old joined the U's on a free transfer over the summer.

But he has made just one appearance after suffering cruciate ligament damage in training in August.

Brabin told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire: "He's joining in with the warm-ups and with a specific 20 minutes period of training with the first team each day."

Brabin says he intends to loan Parkinson to the U's youth side in the near future, as he did with winger Courtney Pitt earlier in the season.

"We'll lose nothing by loaning him out, we may use the opportunity to play him, we may not, but if we do it early it will eat into the loan period," he said.

"You can't call a player back until after 28 days so it's best to do it whilst he's still a fair way away."

Parkinson joined the U's at the start of the current campaign after leaving Notts County.