Wycombe Wanderers manager Gareth Ainsworth has revealed it was ‘brilliant’ to include Curtis Thompson in a matchday squad for the first time this season following his lengthy injury issues.

The 29-year-old suffered a medial collateral ligament injury in the Chairboys’ 5-5 draw against Cheltenham Town in February and missed the remainder of the 2021/22 season.

He then suffered a setback during pre-season causing his absence from the squad to increase, but after 310 days out, Thompson finally made his long-awaited comeback appearance in Wanderers’ 2-1 victory over Bristol Rovers on Boxing Day.

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The midfielder played the final 12 minutes of the contest, where he replaced Lewis Wing.

Ainsworth said: “He injured his MCL (medial collateral ligament) against Cheltenham and he did it again in pre-season coming back, but it t was brilliant to put him back on.

“He got a great cheer, and he is going to be so important for us come the second part of the season, and it was great to be able to put him back on.”

On the rest of the team, Ainsworth added: “I’m leaving Daryl Horgan, Ali Al-Hamadi, Dom Gape, and some other key players out of the squad of the moment and I think people need to realise how good of a squad this is.

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“We’re aiming for the play-offs and it will be an incredible achievement if we get there, but this is such a competitive league and we know it’s not going to be easy.”

Wycombe have only lost three league games since October.

They were against Plymouth Argyle and Cambridge United at home, and Cheltenham Town away respectively.