Defender Rui Marques stepped up his comeback plans by completing 90 minutes of Leeds United's 4-3 defeat to Middlesbrough in a behind-closed-doors friendly.
The Angolan centre-back, who was called up by his country ahead of their weekend friendly with Congo but was not part off the squad for their game with Ghana today, was partnered by trialist centre-half Walter Garcia, a free agent after recently leav
ing MLS side New York Red Bulls.
Marques' last Whites' first-team appearance came in the 2-1 victory at Colchester United at the end of August, when he suffered an Achilles injury late on.
South African striker David Somma fired a brace for United against Boro, with an unnamed trialist winger also on the mark.
Andy Robinson and David Prutton were also in a strong United starting line-up, along with defenders Paul Huntington and Alan Sheehan who recently returned from loan spells at League One rivals Stockport County and Oldham Athletic respectively.
Alan Martin, on Scotland Under-21 duty at the weekend, also featured.
Boro fielded a largely youthful line-up, though French midfielder Didier Digard and Chris Riggott did start, along with England Under-21 left-back Andrew Taylor and midfielder Josh Walker.
United reserve-team boss Neil Thompson said: "Rui came through fine, which was important, and it was good to see him back.
"David Somma got two goals and there were a lot of positives to take out of it. It was Rui's first game and Dave's second game after injury, so it was very pleasing."
On the performance of Argentine stopper Garcia, 25, Thompson added: "He did okay. He played centre-back with Rui and it was a different type of game to what he's used to.
"He did some good things and some not so good things. It's important you see them in a game situation."
Mike Grella is back in training after a brief illness last week.
Saturday's opponents Brighton are in action in an FA Cup first-round replay at home to Wycombe tonight, with strikers Glenn Murray and Liam Dickinson walking a suspension tightrope.
In-form top-scorer Murray, who has notched five goals in his last three games, and ex-Leeds Loan striker Dickinson, who has four goals to his name, have both received four yellow cards this term and are one more caution away from a one-match ban.
Meanwhile, United will be backed by a sell-out following of 1,600 for their televised FA Cup second-round tie at Kettering Town on Sunday week.
