Pride set to return after fall

Belper Town defender Aaron Pride is set to return to the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League action after being out with a serious knee since early January.

The First Division South's Nailers say a summer operation on Pride's knee has been successful and that he's now increasing the intensity of his training with the new season kicking off next weekend.

Pride, who tripped and was injured in a freak accident while walking his dog, played for ten minutes in last week's friendly against a Sheffield United XI but is still weeks behind his team-mates.

Nailers manager Peter Duffield has allowed him to sign for the club's tenants at Christchurch Meadow, Belper United, in order to secure game time before his expected return to the Nailers' squad.

In another boost for their manager, fans favourite Lee Thompson has made a surprise return to the Nailers ahead of the big kick off to the new campaign on Saturday. The midfielder left the club at the end of the 2010-11 season following the resignation of former manager Andy Carney.

Thompson, 31, appeared in Belper's 1-0 pre-season victory over Sheffield United XI in midweek and put pen-to-paper last Thursday. The former England youth international began his career as a trainee at Sheffield United in 2001 and joined Boston United on loan in October 2002.

He joined Boston on a permanent basis in November 2002 and made almost 100 appearances for the Pilgrims in the Football League. He joined Kidderminster Harriers in July 2005 where he established himself, making 34 appearances before moving on to Worksop Town for the 2006-08 campaign.

In July 2007, the player rejoined Boston United, making a further 16 appearances before having season-long spells at Ilkeston Town, Retford United and Belper Town before signing for Worksop Parramore at the start of the 2011-12 season.

Duffield is delighted with his side's preparations for the new campaign after they recorded their sixth successive pre-season win on Saturday, Colin Marrison's goal helping the Nailers beat Stocksbridge Park Steels. But with his side facing Newcastle Town next week, he is also warning against complacency after their third placed finish to last season and insisting they must get off to a good start.

He said: "What cost us last season was the start - it’s not that we weren’t playing well but we just weren’t getting enough wins on the table to match our performance level. I am confident we can start better this time round.

"Newcastle will be a very tough game and they’ll be well organised, but they’ll be just as worried about us beating them. The most important thing is the players’ mentality, they’re ready to get up and running now and they’re all vying for their place in the side."