Fulham striker Bobby Zamora is back - except his most telling contribution for the next month will be giving team-mates stick.
The forward has been out of sight, out of mind since he broke his leg in September during the 2-1 win over Wolves. But Mark Hughes aims to fix that by bringing Zamora back to the fray if only to shake up training sessions with verbal earbashings to all who fall within earshot.
The manager added: "We're going to add him to training ground warm-ups and keep him in around the group.
"His character always adds something, and when he's in sight of the players he'll be able to give them a bit of stick.
"It's been a while since they saw him - and it will help reintegrate him with them."
The player's rehabilitation is 'bang on' schedule' after Zamora was crocked by Karl Henry - a tackle later referred to indirectly by Danny Murphy when the midfielder criticised Wolves, Stoke and Blackburn for going over the top in 'pumping' up their players.
Hughes added: "There have been no complications for Bobby. It's now about getting movement back into the leg which has been a bit stiff, but that will come as he trains more."