BRANDON Blades’ return from injury and the setting up of a friendly look timely based on what is coming up for Knutsford FC.

Reds visit Crossford Bridge in Altrincham to face Old Alts in the Cheshire Amateur Cup semi-final this Saturday, kick-off 2pm.

The following Saturday they face Winsford Town in the Mid Cheshire District Cup semi-final at Witton Albion’s U Lock It Stadium, formerly known as Wincham Park, kick-off 3pm.

This is all weather permitting, of course, because waterlogged pitches have played havoc with the campaign.

With Knutsford’s away fixture against St Michaels postponed at the weekend due to the bad weather again, they managed to arrange a last-minute friendly on an artificial pitch against Northwich outfit Lostock Gralam in order to keep the players ticking over.

Knutsford won 4-1 in what they felt was a good workout, with all five goals coming in the second half.

Lostock took the lead but Charlie Roddick equalised and then Blades scored two fine goals before Jimmy Woodward completed the scoring.

Meanwhile, former Wilmslow High School student Millie Turner made her debut for England Lionesses this week.

The Manchester United defender came off the bench in a 5-1 friendly win against Italy in southern Spain on Tuesday.

It was a success at the same venue, Estadio Nuevo Mirador in Algeciras, as the one in which England beat Austria 7-2 four days earlier.

While the 27-year-old has been in senior England squads before, Turner had never made it onto the field in a full international having previously represented her country at under 19s and under 23s level.