Kansas University’s most valuable utility man will be on the football field next week, after all.

KU coach Mark Mangino told reporters Monday that Charles Gordon should be ready to play in the Fort Worth Bowl on Dec. 23. The junior appeared to suffer a shoulder injury in the regular-season finale against Iowa State and was seen afterward with his right arm in a sling.

“He’s doing OK,” Mangino said. “He’s coming around, and he’ll play. He’ll be ready to go.”

It’s good news to the Jayhawks, who have used Gordon at wide receiver, cornerback, punt returner and, occasionally, kickoff returner.

Playing part-time all over the place, Gordon has caught 28 passes for 227 yards and two touchdowns this season at receiver. He has added two interceptions at cornerback and has averaged 10.3 yards in his 37 punt returns.

The Jayhawks’ bowl opponent, Houston, brings an uncharacteristic style of offense that includes a lot of passing from quarterback Kevin Kolb.

But with the emergence of Aqib Talib as one of the conference’s promising young cornerbacks, Gordon’s services on defense aren’t needed quite as much.

“I think we’ll go with offense and have him ready for defense,” Mangino said of the gameplan for Gordon. “He’ll start the game on offense.”

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