Vlad should be back somtime in January, but will probably need a few weeks in the ressies to get match fitness and sharpness back.
Can't see him in the first team squad, never mind starting 11 till mid Feb at the earliest. Agree that while he's with us, he should provide something different to what we've seen of him in a red shirt.
Btw, isn't he in the last year of his contract...?