Ralph Coates exercises the left leg he injured a fortnight ago, watched by physiotherapist Jimmy Holland.

Ralph Coates, Burnley's 24-year-old England international, has made a surprisingly speedy recovery from his damaged left ankle. When injured a fortnight ago, he was told he might be out of action until mid-January. But his progress has been so good that he could even be playing again next Saturday the 19th December 1970 against Manchester City, which would mean him missing only three matches instead of seven or eight, as feared.