STRIKER Andy Cooke took a giant stride towards making his Shrews comeback after a reserve team run-out.

The former Burnley frontman (pictured) has been out of action since August, when he suffered a serious hamstring injury in a Carling Cup match.

Cooke is ruled out for tomorrow's League Two clash at Accrington, but Shrews boss Gary Peters has pencilled the 33-year-old for a Boxing Day return against Stockport.

Peters said: "He's got to get his fitness back, but he's been training for a couple of weeks now so that shouldn't be too much of a problem."