Gloucester may have lost Lesley Vainikolo for the rest of the season, but they could welcome Anthony Allen, Iain Balshaw, Peter Buxton and Will James back for Sunday's trip to Newcastle.

While winger Vainikolo contemplates seven months out of the game following Achilles surgery, some of Gloucester's other injury concerns are easing.

Back-rower Gareth Delve stepped up his training with the team yesterday, while winger James Simpson-Daniel and flanker Akapusi Qera are on course to return within the next six weeks.

Gloucester have won nine of their last 10 matches in all competitions despite a raft of injuries, which have taken them down to their last three fit back-rowers and last two wingers in recent weeks.

But coach Bryan Redpath says their injury problems are easing ahead of Sunday's trip to Kingston Park, which comes one week before their crunch Heineken Cup clash with Cardiff Blues.

"Players like Anthony Allen and Iain Balshaw need to play somewhere along the line to be confident of going into a game as big as Cardiff – with the whole Heineken Cup lying on it," said Redpath.

"We have to make bold decisions on whether players will come into the mix this weekend and then whether they will play next weekend.

"Anthony is training with us and Balsh is training in some aspects. The last two weeks, Anthony has been getting closer and he needs some game-time. Balsh is the same – he needs to find his feet."

Allen has recovered from an ankle problem and Balshaw is coming back from a groin injury, while James (dislocated finger) and Buxton (ankle) are also close to declaring themselves available.

"Will had a bad dislocation – he ruptured ligaments on the inside of his hand and his finger was facing the wrong way," said Redpath.

"But I think he will be back into the mix – and hopefully Bucko will be back into the mix this week as well. If we can get some more people up then we will have competition for places at Gloucester."