Curle provides injury update on Joseph Mills and Scott Pollock

Cobblers pair Joseph Mills and Scott Pollock are both making good progress from long-term injury lay-offs although manager Keith Curle would not put a date on their first-team return.

Mills, who was a key signing from Forest Green Rovers in the summer, has not played since he limped off with an ankle problem during the 2-0 defeat to Peterborough United on October 10. The 31-year-old wing-back required surgery after seeing a specialist.

Pollock, meanwhile, is yet to feature at all this season as he continues to battle his persistent groin injury that he first suffered with during the summer.

"Both are progressing very well," said Curle. "Scotty has been a difficult one and there's been a level of frustration for him because he's still getting discomfort and pain.

"We need to get the balance right in terms of what pain he needs to work through and what pain will potentially cause more damage. How far do we push the lad and how hard do we push him? Or is there something we're missing?

"We're trying to push him and get him through the pain barrier but the lad is working very hard and he's doing everything that's been asked of him. He's still getting that discomfort but all it takes is a different exercise or one more injection that means he can join in on the field and then he would progress quickly."

On Mills, Curle said: "Joseph is back in field-based training and now for him it's just about racking up training sessions and getting game-time."