Stuart McCall is tired of saying the same things to his City players week in, week out.

But as the games fly past, the script remains unaltered. His team are still hunting that elusive first win since March 7.

So ahead of Saturday’s clash at play-off rivals Dagenham, McCall can be excused if his words sound familiar.

He admitted: “I said it eight games ago, we needed three points on the board. We need to win a game, we need to win a game – it’s getting repetitive every week. But we’re still in there with a fighting chance and, while that’s the case, I expect us to give it everything that we’ve got.

“There’s no reason why we can’t go to Dagenham and get the three points. I believe we can, the players believe we can but, as always, it’s about actually doing it.”

Mark Bower is back in the squad after Luton agreed to end his loan spell once their relegation was confirmed. He won’t start but could be included on the bench.

Frustratingly, Dean Furman is still out with a tweaked knee ligament, though he is likely to be back in contention for next Saturday’s final home game with Rotherham.

Whether Valley Parade will see one more after that in the play-offs hinges on City reversing a run which has seen them plunge to the bottom of the form table.

Two points off that coveted seventh spot, McCall is determined to stay optimistic amid the gloom.

He added: “If we keep battling on and showing fighting spirit, things will change. We’ll take a couple of chances that we’re creating and will defend better.

“And hopefully we’ll get that decision, rightly or wrongly, that goes towards us.

“People must be fed up with hearing me say it but it’s still all to play for. This season isn’t over.”

Dagenham give a debut to 20-year-old Tottenham keeper David Button, who has signed on an emergency loan after regular stopper Tony Roberts cracked a rib.

Button, who is 6ft 3in, was recently on the Luton bench at Wembley as back-up. He also spent a month with Bournemouth, playing four games in January.

But he finished his loan with a shocker at Lincoln, gifting the home side two late goals in a 3-3 draw.

Button, who spent the first half of the season with Grays, has represented England at under-17 and under-19 level and Daggers boss John Still feels he is up to the task.

Still said: “If he comes in and does well, people will love him. He’s got a chance to become a hero.”