Liversedge keeper Stuart Wilkinson looks increasingly likely to get his wish of another season at Clayborn, despite missing the end of the last one.

Wilkinson, better known throughout the game as Scoobie, was coaxed out of semi-retirement by Sedge boss Sean Regan last term.

He suffered a bad injury and lost his place in the last month of the campaign but was desperate to return before the season ended.

His absence from the squad for the last three games, when Regan was struggling with an injury glut, was surprising.

It remained a mystery until deep into the close season before Regan set the record straight.

“I had him pencilled in for the last two games because Karl Dean was due to go away on holiday,” explained the manager.

“Deano had come straight back into the side following Stewart’s injury but he had just got back from a tour of duty in Afghanistan, so he and his wife went away on holiday.

“But Scoobie Doo got injured again and couldn’t have played. I had to pick our under-19s keeper Mitch Smith, and he did well to be fair.

"He saved a penalty and then a great one-on-one, so he earned his clean sheet in the last game of last season.

“I have asked everybody back for pre-season training, so potentially we have three very good keepers. I’m sure Scoobie will be with us as he enjoyed coming back to this level and turned in some great performances.”