CURTIS NELSON'S comeback from injury in the midweek reserve friendly at Cardiff has given manager Carl Fletcher a pleasant boost ahead of the trip to Macclesfield.

The 2-0 winning score-line for the visiting Pilgrims also pleased Fletcher, but it is probably the fact Nelson played the full 90 minutes that was the icing on the cake for the Argyle manager.

It was Nelson's first competitive outing since well before Christmas.

The young centre-back's last appearance came in a 1-1 draw at Bradford City on December 10, when Nelson came on as a second-half substitute for Darren Purse, who had received a head injury.

Fletcher said: "He (Nelson) has been out a little while and it was a good game for us up at Cardiff.

"It's good to see him back."

The injury had taken longer than anticipated, said Fletcher, but it was decided to err on the side of safety and not rush the player back too early.

"The injury affected his knee and down the outside of his leg.

"It wasn't just a case of getting it sorted and patching over.

"It was decided we'd take a little time and get everything cleared up properly.

"There are things inside the knee you have to be careful with and we made sure there wasn't long-term damage.

"It might have been longer than we really wanted but sometimes you have to take those couple of extra weeks to make sure everything's 100 per cent."

Fletcher, though, refused to confirm Curtis' return to competition means he will be on the substitutes' bench at Macclesfield tomorrow.

"We'll see, but we've got lots of good players here and everyone is fighting for a place, which is good."

Two players looking to break into the first team are versatile midfield duo, Robbie Williams and right-winger Luke Daley.

Fletcher insisted the pair were still in his thoughts, but said: "You can only play 11 and only put five on the bench.

"In my squad every player is as important the next one and treated the same.

"You've got to treat players with respect.

"The way the games are these days with injuries and suspensions, you're going to need every player in the squad.

"We have to look after the ones who right now aren't playing, but you know how quickly things can change in football.

"One moment you're not playing and then the next week you could be in.

"It is going to be the whole squad which will help us achieve stuff."

Fletcher, as usual, was coy when asked about his squad for Macclesfield match, but it is expected he will keep to the line-up which started last Saturday's 2-2 draw with Southend.

That would mean a front-two pairing of big strikers Nick Chadwick and Juvhel Tsoumou, who is on loan from Preston.