AARON O’Connor is back in light training as the hotshot Exile closes in on a first team return, writes Michael Pearlman.

The striker, who scored 20-goals to help the Exiles to the Football League, has been suffering with a groin injury throughout 2013.

He’s yet to feature for County in League Two, but the Argus can reveal he stepped up his rehabilitation this week by training on his own, now running in pattern formations as opposed to just straight lines.

Next week, as he’s suffered no ill-effects, he is going to be training with a ball and the plan is for O’Connor to rejoin the full County squad from a week on Monday.

“It’s been great to step things up and not suffer any ill-effects, we are being cautious, but I’m hopeful,” O’Connor told the Argus.

“From a week on Monday I’m aiming to be back in full training, that most important thing is I haven’t had any back reactions and so next week I’ll step things up a level and push myself a little more.”