JAMES Norwood will be given an opportunity to reignite his first team prospects by playing in this afternoon's reserve match at Reading.

The Exeter City striker burst onto the scene following his summer arrival from Eastbourne Town, featuring in the first four games of the season amid a striker injury crisis.

Since then he not seen any first team action and has spent three months out on loan with Sutton United.

Now he is back and City manager Paul Tisdale is keen to see how much he has progressed.

"He had a very good three months at Sutton and they were very pleased with how he did," said Tisdale.

"He has certainly improved and it was a good idea to bring him back and put him in the reserves to see how much he has progressed.

"We will then see how close he is to a first team recall.

"He will have profited from his time at Sutton in terms of match day decisions and playing in an environment where it is about the result.

"There are decent people at Sutton and it hasn't done him any harm going there for a few months.

"He has been playing regularly and is sharper and stronger and has come back with plenty of confidence."

Norwood made his City debut when he came off the bench in the opening day 2-1 defeat at Leeds United.

A substitute appearance in the 5-0 Carling Cup drubbing at the hands of Queens Park Rangers was followed by starts in the back-to-back draws with Norwich City and Yeovil Town.

Tisdale says his lack of opportunities since then will heighten his appreciation at playing for the first team.

"Those experiences came very quickly for him," said Tisdale. "I don't think he really appreciated how hard it is to get a first team place at the time.

"It kind of landed in his lap. I am not saying that he didn't deserve his chance, but we had a lot of injuries at the time.

"I think he will have a different view on how hard it is to secure a first team place now.

"He has had the experience and exposure of the first team environment and that is something he will want again.

"It is very seductive playing in that environment so I am sure he will want to get back to that."

Tisdale has got plenty of competition up front this afternoon with Richard Logan, Craig McAllister, Stuart Fleetwood and Norwood all battling for places up front.

"We have got quite a few strikers that need to play," said Tisdale. "We did well at Southampton last week and players need to keep their form up.

"There is a good atmosphere in our reserve team and I am sure there will be again today."