ANDY GRAHAM has stressed the importance of ensuring Kurtis Roberts is fully recovered before he plays again.

Roberts has been absent since the end of August – initially fears were regarding a sports hernia, but this was later diagnosed as osteitis pubis.

Since then, Alloa’s Player of the Season has been on the sidelines, but has been spotted doing solo running during pre-match training.

Speaking to Advertiser Sport, Graham eyed up a January return for Roberts once he was satisfied he was fully recovered.

“Kurtis is coming along pretty well,” Graham said. “He’s back out running a wee bit quicker than we anticipated.

“I’m massive on making sure players are fully recovered before they go back out there.

“It’s about making sure that the players are fully recovered from what’s happened – Kurtis has been out for a long time.

“As much as I’d be desperate to get him back, that’s such short-term thinking, we need to think of the bigger picture.

“If I can get Kurtis back in January for the remaining five months of the season, I’ll be delighted.”

Roberts has been one of two long-term injuries of this season, with other players suffering spells out of the team only absent for a few weeks at a time.

The other player missing is David Devine, who was forced off against East Fife with a hamstring issue, which flared up again on his return against Cove Rangers.

“It’s the same with David Devine,” Graham added. “If I can get the two of them back in January, it’ll be like two new signings.”