RETURNING Town star Lee Peacock is heading towards the “peak of his fitness”, according to manager Danny Wilson.

Peacock was a surprise inclusion among Swindon’s substitutes at Griffin Park following seven months on the sidelines with a back injury.

And the boss believes sitting on the bench can be a good ‘taster’ to help in the 32-year-old’s road to recovery.

“We’ve watched Lee over a period of time now. He’s played a couple of reserve games and has had a long time out,” admitted Wilson.

“He’s come back and then been out again and it’s a long time not having football.

“What we’ve done this time is that we’ve been careful with him, we’ve been patient with him, we’ve trained him very hard and he looks like he’s almost at the peak of his fitness.

“Having a little taste of today was what he needed. Lee still needs games, without a doubt, but it gives us another body to choose from.”

Wilson was also full of praise for substitute Lloyd Macklin, who pulled up through injury near the end with Town already having used all three of their replacements.

Despite being in obvious pain the youngster continued, and his manager believes it highlighted Macklin’s team ethic.

“Thankfully it’s only a kick, and if it had been a pull then he wouldn’t have been able to do that (come back on),” said Wilson.

“Lloyd sustained one last week, then got a kick in the same place this time, but he got through it and did it for the lads.

“He knew he needed to put a shift in to help the boys out because we needed everybody out there, and he came back on and did well.”