Ryan Williams has moved closer to a return to first team action this week.
The 22-year-old is training every day with the development squad while he played 25 minutes against Coventry City for the under 23s on Friday then another 45 in a behind-closed-doors match with a Manchester United XI on Tuesday.
Injury-plagued Australian Williams has started just two matches for the Reds since signing in 2015 on a two-year deal which expires next summer, although the Reds have an option to extend it for a further 12 months.
Head coach Paul Heckingbottom said: "The next stage is for him to be playing 90 minutes with the under 23s then to join in first team training. Hopefully he will be back playing for the first team in the near future and that would be like a new signing for us.
"But I don't want to put too much pressure on him because he has been out a long time and it is a difficult process.
"Also, our first team has moved on while he has been out. We have gone up a division and improved a lot, so it won't be easy for him. But he is a quality player and we believe in him."
