MARK CARRINGTON is in contention to return against Eastleigh at The Racecourse on Saturday but striker JJ Hooper remains sidelined.

Utility player Carrington, the longest serving player in the Wrexham squad, has not played since he sustained an ankle injury in the 2-0 win at Harrogate on January 25.

"Carra has joined fully back in so he will have had a good week's training by the time the game comes around," said Reds' boss Keates.

"He brings a bit of versatility for us, a wealth of experience and a great lad in the changing room.

"The big thing is the experience that he can add for us being part of the squad at the weekend."

Hooper, second top scorer with seven goals, has missed the last two games with a thigh injury and will again be absent when the Reds continue their bid to avoid relegation against fellow strugglers Eastleigh.

"JJ still won't be involved this weekend," said Keates. "He has got a thigh injury and it has not settled the way we thought it would have done.

"He is second leading goalscorer so you are going to miss somebody who scores goals but he is not ready to come back in so we will just get on with our job."

On-loan Jordan Ponticelli, who has scored two goals in his last three games, has impressed Keates and is set to continue to lead the attack.

"JP has stepped up and led the line unbelievably well," said Keates.

"He is a young lad and the enthusiasm he has shown, starting the press, work rate and everything that he has done, he has been second to none."

With Carrington available, and only long-term injury victims James Jennings and Luke Summerfield ruled out along with Hooper, Keates has to decide whether to change the starting line-up as Wrexham aim to bounce back from Saturday's 3-0 defeat at high-flying Yeovil.

"We are back at home, it has been a long time since the last home game," said Keates.

"It is on the back end of a defeat and the chance to freshen it up is there so I will make the decision accordingly on what I feel Eastleigh are going to do.

"The group is getting stronger all the time. We have got two long term injuries and how long JJ is, we will have to wait and see."