DOG of war Nick Turton has been straining at the leash during his spell out injured and admits: “I cannot wait to be that number nine again.”

The striker suffered a grade-two sprain of his medial collateral ligament – a tear to the inner side of the knee – during a pre-season friendly at Redditch in July.

His rehabilitation has been painstaking but he was back with his trademark bite as a substitute in last weekend’s 3-0 victory over Midland Football League leaders Ilkeston Town.

Turton confessed he could not resist ruffling a few feathers and now has his sights set on cementing a regular first-team berth.

“On Saturday, Ash (Vincent, assistant manager) wanted me to go on, keep calm if I could and get through the game but my mentality is a bit different,” said Turton.

“I tried to hold up the ball. Maybe I could have done a bit better by my own standards but I had to be happy with the result, playing a part and getting through it.

“If you’re a decent footballer you want to be on the pitch, especially if you have a strong, winning mentality.

“Watching the lads was difficult. You want to be out there and I cannot wait to be that number nine again.

“There was a little altercation at the Long Eaton game which I guess was just down to my frustration, wanting to be on the pitch with the lads and making a difference. That’s just the kind of guy I am.

“Still, I was absolutely buzzing with the win last Saturday. Not just me but for all of us collectively, the fans and everyone all round. It was top notch."

Much-needed game time was secured again in midweek with Turton having a goal disallowed for offside before providing the assist for Kyonn Evans’s second goal in a 2-0 win at Pershore Town in the Worcestershire Senior Urn.

“It was the right thing to do,” Turton added.

“I needed the minutes and getting through the match was the main thing because I want to be out there for the rest of the season, pushing on with the team to make sure we win the league and get promotion.

“That should be the aim, most definitely. We demolished Ilkeston with some great football, the right mindset and a real togetherness.”

With near to 90 minutes under his belt over the past week, Turton now has Sporting Khalsa in his sights at the Victoria Ground tomorrow (3pm).

“It is a very big game but if we play like we did last week and keep our heads I don’t think anyone should scare us to be honest,” he added.