STRIKER Lee Phillips is desperate to return to the fold as quickly as possible to restore some experience to Chippenham Town’s endeavours.

Phillips has been sidelined with a knee problem since early August and is one of a clutch of Bluebirds veterans currently grounded with long-term injuries alongside fellow frontman Alan Griffin, who made a substitute appearance in Tuesday’s cup clash with Paulton, and defender Matt Coupe.

The Chippenham man is expected to require keyhole surgery to repair a cartilage tear, but is hoping that an MRI scan later this month could allow him to slot back into Mark Collier’s frontline sooner than expected.

“It’s the worst feeling ever, especially when we’ve got so many injuries to experienced players,” said Phillips.

“We’re missing some big voices in myself, Coupes and Griff. We’re major bits of vocal support for the team and any team would miss that.

“I’ve got my MRI scan on the 23rd of this month. I am going to wait and see what the outcome of that is.

“Obviously, I will need surgery, but if the surgeon says that, after seeing the results, I can play and carry on and it’s not going to do any damage, I will get straight back in.

“If it means that I can play on a Saturday and not train through the week, then I’ll just have to do it that way and I think that’s the same situation Griff’s in.

“If I can hold the surgery off until the summer, that would be great. Mark (Collier) and the players need a forward back, whether that’s me or Griff. I just can’t wait to get back now.”

He added: “It happened after the second game of the season. We had a training session on the Tuesday night and all I did was just pass a ball inside.

“I passed the ball quite awkwardly and my knee sort of opened out a little bit, so straight away I felt a stabbing pain inside.

“I can walk around fine but all of a sudden, sometimes it will give way. It’s nothing major, just a slight tear in the cartilage, which is a nothing job but it will stop me doing everyday things.

“I think it’s a ten-day wait after the surgery. I’m a quick healer anyway. I’ve had a few injuries in the past, broken legs etc, so fingers crossed I’ll be back soon.”