DEAN KEATES stressed the importance of having Shaun Pearson available in Wrexham's battle to avoid relegation.

There were fears that the Reds captain had broken a foot in Saturday's 3-2 defeat at fellow strugglers Chesterfield but Pearson has been given the green light to face Torquay at the Racecourse tomorrow after undergoing an x-ray.

That was music to the ears of Keates who said: "Shaun is captain of the football club and he is captain for a reason.

"He is a voice, he is a leader, and I think he has been getting back to the Shaun Pearson of old.

"He has been at his best over the last 'x' amount of games, hence the reason we have been keeping clean sheets.

"For him to be available is a massive lift for us."

Injured duo Akil Wright and Mark Carrington are closing in on a return and could play in a behind closed doors friendly next week.

"Akil is not far off," said Keates. "Hopefully we will have a friendly game behind closed doors next week so he will be pushing into that.

"This weekend will be a little bit too soon for Carra so we are maybe looking at the Bromley game."