By Nicholas Rigg
September 6 2005

Owls player of the season Jon Paul McGovern is stepping up his fitness in a bid to return to first team actyion in the next couple of weeks. McGovern hasn't kicked a ball this season, but is hoping to be back in full training by Monday.

Mcgovern has been out of action since the victory over Hartlepool in the play-off final in May with a back injury. Mcgovern has already admitted that he played through his back injury in the last couple of months of the season to help the Owls in their bid for promotion.

He told the SWFC official site: ''I have stepped up the fitness side of it with less cycling and more running. I was running all last week and on Saturday morning the gaffer had me in at nine o'clock with his whistle. I was running hard yesterday and it starts again today, an easier day on Wednesday, then hopefully running hard on Thursday and Friday to see where I'm at over the weekend.''

The winger is hoping to be back in full training on Monday, with a reserve outing coming shortly after. If all goes well he may well be in the Owls first team squad within the next couple of weeks.

''I'm hoping to be back training with the boys on Monday, it depends how fit I am. We'll have to wait and see'' said Mcgovern.