No-one will be more keen to see Avenue back in action tomorrow than Ross Daly.

The midfielder has only recently returned to the squad following a hip operation and is desperate to continue his comeback.

Daly spent some time on loan at former club Thackley and also played one game for Farsley to build up his match fitness in readiness for the rigours of Blue Square Bet North football.

He said: “I hope tomorrow’s game (at Gainsborough Trinity) is on because I have missed enough football.

"It killed me to watch for the first few months of the season and I have worked hard to get back, so the last thing I need is to be missing games because of the weather.”

Daly finally reclaimed his starting place in the New Year’s Day derby at home to second-placed Guiseley. He then played in the goalless draw against Chester and the game at third-placed Brackley Town.

Avenue had missed Daly’s presence in the centre of midfield and he appeared back to his best. Now he and his team-mates are looking forward to the remainder of the season and have set themselves targets.

Daly said: “I’m fully fit now and match fit. The operation went well but I had a couple of setbacks after that and didn’t want to be out so long. But I’m back now and I think I have done myself justice in the three games I’ve played.

“That run of fixtures around Christmas and since was really tough as we played Guiseley twice, Chester and three or four other clubs at the top end. After the recent results, everyone just wants that first win to get us going again.

“It is definitely our aim to still be in with a chance of the play-offs at the end of the season. We are playing good football and it gets said a lot that we have ‘done well’ and ‘didn’t get what we deserved’ in all these games – but we need points.

“This league is very tight and the strikers are a lot more clinical. We have been on top in games but one chance can turn into a goal for these sides, so we have to concentrate and make sure we don’t give that one chance away.

“All the boys know we are good enough to compete because John (manager Deacey) has put a very good squad together here.”