Damien Mozika is primed to make a long-awaited return to the Scunthorpe United first-team when Walsall visit Glanford Park on Saturday.

The midfielder has not featured for the Iron since damaging his ankle in training during the middle of October, but manager Alan Knill is positive about the Frenchman's chances of featuring against the Saddlers.

Since being named as an unused substitute for the 3-1 defeat against Sheffield Wednesday a week ago, Mozika has featured in two behind-closed-doors friendlies.

Yesterday he completed the full 90 minutes of a 2-1 success against Grimsby Town, which means he will be in Knill's plans for the weekend.

"I'm hopeful he's going to play," the Iron boss told the Telegraph.

"I'm pleased with Josh Walker, he's done really well since coming in, but we need more competition."

Club captain Cliff Byrne also featured against the Mariners and is 'just about' ready to return to first-team action.

The game against Walsall is the first of a run of three matches the Iron face against their relegation rivals.

And there is no doubt the return of some old faces is equally as welcome as the arrival of three new ones, following Scunthorpe's capture of Jon Parkin, David Mirfin and Robbie Gibbons on transfer deadline day.

Gibbons played in yesterday's friendly, alongside trialist Eugen Bopp, a former Nottingham Forest midfielder who worked under Knill at Rotherham United.

There was, however, no place for former Accrington Stanley starlet Jimmy Ryan, who is still yet to return to training with a troublesome knee ligament injury.

"He's a lot closer, but not close enough to play in a game," said Knill, on the midfielder.

The Iron boss also revealed on-loan full-back Christian Ribeiro is available having been substituted with concussion during the opening minute of the defeat against the Owls, but rookie striker Matt Godden has suffered a relapse in his recovery from a hip problem.