Strachan, 29, has spent a month on the sidelines after suffering a recurrence of the hamstring injury he sustained last season.

He could make his comeback at Accrington on Saturday, but McParland insists he will not rush the midfielder back into action.

"Gavin Strachan has trained with us since last Thursday, and that is a major boost for us," McParland told the club's official website. "I just wish the game we had in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy last Tuesday was actually this week. With no reserve team it would have been ideal for us to bring him back in that game and give him a good work out.

"The lad has been out for a number of weeks so it is hard to throw him straight back in. We will see how he goes the rest of this week in terms of him being involved at Accrington.

"He is a naturally fit lad anyway and he has a good rehabilitation programme with physio Paul Smith but like I said, we will see how he goes."