Injury victims Kanu and David Nugent both made their long-awaited returns for the reserves this week.

Featuring for a half each against Fulham, it was the attacking duo's first outing for more than a month.

Kanu returning from a dead leg and ankle problems, marked the occasion with the final goal in a 3-1 victory.

As for Nugent, it was a crucial 45 minutes having been sidelined with a groin injury since July 21.

For the watching Redknapp, their comebacks were reasons to cheer.

They will now push on to join Ben Sahar in providing cover for his number-one strikeforce of Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch.

And for the Blues boss, it will provide a tantalising host of options ahead of the next match on September 13 against Middlesbrough.

He said: 'It was great to see the pair of them back.

'We've been short of cover up front. Ideally you want four or five strikers to choose from every game, but so far this season that just hasn't happened.

'These days, with seven players on the bench, you want two strikers sat on it. That hasn't happened yet, we've just had Sahar.

'Kanu came on in the second half and it was good to see him get a goal. He's been out a while and it's just about getting match practice.

'I thought Nugent looked all right, too. He came off at half-time, but we had agreed that was all he was having.

'It's important we get the both of them back – they've been out a while.

'We don't want to push them too much, you don't want anything else to happen. We'll just have to see how they get on and whether they can be considered for Boro.'

One player who didn't feature on Monday night was Glen Little.

The former Reading man suffered a dead leg in training on Friday, ruling him out of the trip to Everton.

The 33-year-old was back in the gym earlier this week as he looks to end his frustrating time with injuries.

Meanwhile, Niko Kranjcar is currently in a splint for two weeks as he recovers from surgery for ruptured ankle ligaments.

Jerome Thomas is also sidelined for up to 12 weeks as he attempts to recover from a stress fracture in the base of his spine.

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