BRADFORD Park Avenue manager John Deacey received a huge boost this week with good news about some of his most influential players ahead of a testing run of games.

With recent postponed fixtures – including today's at home to Colwyn Bay – needing to be rearranged, Avenue now face matches every midweek right through to the end of March.

But at least they will be going into that busy spell with a much healthier squad, with the new group of directors also promising funds to further increase the number of players.

"We had some excellent news about Nathan Turner when we were told he is only about three weeks from returning," said Deacey.

"He had another scan done and they found that they didn't have to redo the original operation he had on his knee.

"He was out for five months after that and we feared he would face a long spell of rehab' after this op. But it turned out that there was some tissue irritating the joint when he was running and it only needed to be cleaned up. That's fantastic for the boy and the club as well.

"Also, Paul Walker, Nathan Hotte and Chris Lever trained last Saturday when the Guiseley game was off and they trained through the week. They are now just weeks away from being back involved.

"It's like having four new signings – and we're talking big players. The captain, last season's players of the year, a player who won the Conference North last season and our biggest close-season signing."

Turner's return is particularly pleasing as the player, and his manager, felt he might have to retire from the game. That was considered to be his only option after the original diagnosis that his knee ligaments needed rebuilding for a second time.

The local derby at Guiseley has been rearranged for Tuesday, February 24 and new dates have also been found for the games against Gloucester City, Stockport County and Chorley.

But today's match against Colwyn Bay has yet to be rearranged after snow claimed the fixture yesterday afternoon.

Deacey said: "We are left with 20 games to fit in in during February, March and April, including the County Cup semi-final – and we are going to have at least another one postponed because the worst of the weather isn't over yet.

"That will probably mean we have eight games a month because we only get two thirds of March before the season ends so they can fit the play-offs in. It's going to be hard for us but we've got the squad back somewhere near.

"Two players are going back to Alfreton, so even with the four players back I may look at the loan market to boost the squad a bit just to get us back up to 18 players."