City return to Valley Parade tonight with Will Atkinson jokingly admitting: We’ve forgotten what it’s like.

After three straight away games, the Chesterfield clash kicks off a run of four of the next five at home.

And midfielder Atkinson cannot wait to get back to familiar surroundings as fifth-placed City look to keep up the pressure at the top of League Two.

He said: “A home game, what’s one of those? It feels weird to be back there but we’re all really looking forward to it.

“It’ll be good to be in front of our fans again and they’ll be in good spirits like us after the cup ties. I hope we can get the right result back in the league.”

Phil Parkinson is expected to shuffle the pack again for the latest stage in City’s punishing schedule. Both loan players – Craig Forsyth and new centre half John Egan – come into contention but Ricky Ravenhill is still suspended.

There were four changes at Northampton and Atkinson can understand why Parkinson will look to freshen up the troops. Having played every minute of both cup ties in the past week – scoring on Saturday – he is not guaranteed a starting spot tonight.

Atkinson added: “It’s a squad game and we’ve got a strong group of players as we showed at Wigan and against Northampton.

“We played the 120 minutes last week and then off a really big high we were back to reality on Saturday.

“We made a few changes for that game but the ones coming in didn’t look out of place. That’s a very promising sign.

“Everyone wants to be playing and we’re always pushing each other hard in training. That sort of competition for places is going to help you individually to stay on your game.

“Last Tuesday was something special and the adrenaline carried us through, though I felt it the morning after.

“But I’m only 24, so I’ve got plenty of energy and want to play as many games as we can.

“We’re still in all four competitions – so we’re going for the quadruple!”

Atkinson relished the roaming role he was given at Northampton from Parkinson’s decision to operate with a midfield diamond.

“It gave Gary Jones a bit of a licence to get forward and Ritchie (Jones) and I were the legs behind him. We tried to get on the ball as much as we could and supply the front three.

“It worked quite well and I enjoyed having a bit of a free role because you could go wide or come inside.”

Parkinson is likely to resort to using two wingers at home, with Zavon Hines benefiting from the breather after running on empty at the DW Stadium.

But Atkinson, who has featured in all but one of City’s games, will hope he has done enough to retain a spot with his first goal of the season.

His precise finish at Sixfields was his first since the end of February when he netted in City’s 4-0 romp at Barnet. But he deflected the praise on to Alan Connell, another who could make way this evening, for his role as the provider.

Atkinson said: “I don’t even think he looked up as he just laid it perfectly into my path. I just tried to guide the ball into the far corner.

“I didn’t have to break my stride because it was the sort of pass that was asking to be finished.

“Al’s got that technical ability to set up goals as well as score them.

“It was my first goal of the season and I’ve been disappointed not to get any sooner. But it gives your confidence a boost and hopefully I can go on from there and get some more.”