Centre back James Stansfield is well on the road to recovery after his double hernia surgery earlier this season but he will not be back in time for inclusion in the squad, even though the normal season is extended by the play offs.

"The surgeon is pleased with the way the operation went and the recovery I have made so far and the physio has given me the go ahead to continue working in the gym," said the former Halifax Town defender.

"The physio I'm working with had the same operation so he knows exactly what

is going on. He said it would be 12 weeks before I play football again and it has been nine so far.

"So although the injury is in the past now, the end of the season has just come a little too quick for me to play any part of it. On top of that I'm nowhere near match-fit after not playing for months so it wouldn't be an option to comeback now."

Stansfield is a genuine all-rounder, not only playing football at a high level but also being captain of Bradford League cricket club Brighouse. As expected, he bats and bowls.

The cricket season began last Saturday and Stansfield has recovered sufficiently to be involved. He has done the net practice and was in the thick of the action when Brighouse began their season at their new ground with a visit from Yeadon.

"The physio has told me that playing cricket will be good for my rehabilitation and I've been encouraged by the start and feel ready. The groin is no problem now but the muscles are sore and they will be.

"It doesn't trouble me batting, though starting off on a run does twinge, and I'm not bowling anywhere near full pace. I'm running in from six yards and throwing a few down really.

"The cricket will help my fitness over the summer and I hope to be back at the start of the next football season. A full pre-season's training will get me up to scratch for Avenue.

"I'm moving well and feeling less sore and have been told to keep up cricket, running in straight lines, working in the gym, and cycling. It will all help but the crunch time will come when we report back for Avenue.

"I've been told that until I start twisting and turning when I'm running and actually going in for a tackle that I won't know how far off playing football I am."

That leaves the big man as a frustrated spectator as Avenue enter the play-offs for the Conference North, standing as he has for the last two months on the sidelines with the other walking wounded.

"It's hard but I played with the injury from last August so I was always going to miss some part of the season," he added. "There is never a good time to have

surgery."