Stevenage have high hopes that the final piece of their January transfer window could be a surprising return - that of Elliott List.

The forward had been in stellar form during pre-season but all that work came crumbling down with a knee injury picked up in the first half of the opening game of the season at Tranmere Rovers.

For a long time it was feared that could be that and he would not kick a ball for the rest of the campaign.

That might still be the case but manager Steve Evans has high hopes the 25-year-old will be back next month.

"He was on the grass [on Friday] so he’s getting much better," said the boss.

"I think the target for Elliott is the start of February but I’ve said it before, if there is any little relapse, it’ll probably take it to March and April and if it is March and April, then I’ll make the decision to say no, you’ll come in pre-season and we’ll go afresh. 

"Elliott is desperate to be a part of it and I’ve got no doubt that we’d have had more points and more goals if he had been around. 

"He’s an infectious character and was incredible in pre-season. He reminded me of the Jack Marriott who went [from Peterborough] to Derby for £6m, he’s of that class."

And Evans revealed that if there is a relapse, he would probably use the window to bring another striker in. 

"We just need to be patient," he said. "If it’s right, we’ll get him in and if it’s not, we won’t be short of strikers when the window closes because we’ll be a lot clearer on where we are with Elliott at that time."