WHOEVER comes in to replace Steve Magoffin is going to have pretty big shoes to fill.

Maggsy has been fantastic both on and off the field and I have read in the press that Mark Newton has said he is a potential signing for the future.

I don’t think there is one bloke in the dressing room who would be against that.

It is looking very unlikely that we will have a new overseas player in place by Thursday for our match against Northamptonshire.

But, having played a second team game last week, there are some good young bowlers waiting for their chance.

There is also a not so young guy who can’t wait to get back! Matt Mason is back to his old self — he is bowling like only Mase can.

He removed Kadeer Ali with a ball that climbed on him and the wicketkeeper took above his head, he finished with two wickets off seven overs.

For me, and I’m not a selector, I would certainly say that he is back in contention for the first team.

Chris Whelan also had a good game following on from his recent fine showings for the first team.

The game against Northants is going to be a very tough one and it’s one where the full four days will be needed.

They may have a lot of Kolpak players but they are a dangerous side. They have good spin and pace options and good batting.

They are full of internationals and one of the best players never to play international cricket in David Sales.

But the weather recently hasn’t been great. It may have only been showers but they have been heavy and to get a result we are going to need the full four days because good teams just don’t roll over and die.

Last week also saw Simon Jones get called back into the England 30-man squad for the ICC Trophy.

That is fantastic for him. He has been working so hard, I was told that he was bowling lightning quick up at Leicester so this isn’t a call-up for his exploits from the past but for what he is doing now.

I bet that there are a lot of batsmen out on the county circuit who want him back in the team too — just so they don’t have to face him.

If the Test series against South Africa doesn’t start too well, I suppose there is a chance he could even get a call-up for that, but this is something that he rightly deserves.

This has been an incredibly tough week for me and one that will live with me forever.

I deeply regret my drink driving incident. If I could turn back the clock I would, but I want to apologise again and say it will never happen again.

I want to get back to playing cricket, taking wickets and scoring runs, hopefully starting on Thursday.