CHIPPENHAM Town boss Mark Collier is looking forward to finally welcoming back a fully-fit Alan Griffin.

The Bluebirds’ captain has been struggling with a knee problem since the start of the season and was due to go under the knife today to finally aim to get his recovery on track.

Griffin did manage to make three successive substitute appearances in Town’s last three games, with the striker finding the net against Redditch United on Tuesday, and Collier has his fingers crossed that there is finally some light at the end of the tunnel for the 31-year-old.

Collier said: “Alan got a phone call on Tuesday afternoon saying that there was a cancellation and could he go in for the keyhole surgery on Thursday?

“Initially, we were told that the operation would happen some time in the next 16 weeks, so we were looking at the end of those 16 weeks really, but it’s going to be good to get it done now.

“I’ve been speaking to Scott (Garraway), the physio, and we’re thinking it’ll be about four or five weeks from the day of the operation until he can start training again, and then it’s all about how he recovers.”

Fellow injured frontman Lee Phillips had an MRI scan yesterday to assess his knee injury whilst Darren Edwards is unavailable for Saturday’s game with Arlesey Town.

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