BOSS Tom Killick is pondering unleashing Luke Roberts in Poole’s Southern League South derby with Wimborne – more than a year after the striker last played.

Roberts has been sidelined since sustaining a serious knee injury during a pre-season friendly against Weymouth in July 2017.

The 24-year-old frontman ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament and supporters clubbed together to help raise funds for him to have an operation to repair the damage.

Although Roberts has not played since, he has impressed in training and Killick is weighing up whether to include him at Wimborne tomorrow.

Killick told the Daily Echo: “It is a difficult one because there is a balance.

“On the one hand, and after what Luke has gone through with such a serious injury, you don’t want to rush him back.

“But I have been watching him in training and it makes me desperate to get him into the team in terms of the levels he has been showing.

“I know training and matches are two very different things so I might have to let my head rule my heart.

“But Luke’s return is fairly imminent and it is something both myself and all the players can’t wait for. It might be a bit early but he is getting very close.”

Defender Will Spetch returns to the Poole squad following suspension but Wimborne midfielder Luke Holmes is still out due to a virus.