Moseley must sit out return to Avenue

11:47am Thursday 20th November 2008

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Avenue boss Dave Cameron has refused Saturday’s visitors Witton Albion permission to play Mike Moseley in the UniBond Premier Division clash and insisted last season’s leading scorer remains a big part of his plans.

The Horsfall Stadium striker is currently on loan at the Cheshire outfit as he seeks to regain full fitness following a hernia operation.

He missed the entire pre-season and, following months of rehab, has only recently returned to competitive action.

Cameron left no doubt about Moseley’s possible involvement at the weekend.

“There is not a chance he will be playing against us,” he said.

“He has gone there on loan for a month to get match fitness. It’s just happened when the two clubs were due to play each other but no way will we let someone with his scoring record play against us while he remains our player.

“Mike has scored 156 goals in the last six seasons in the UniBond Premier and last year he finished as our top scorer and he only played 24 games because he was injured for a long part of the campaign.

“It is a good record at any level of football, it’s phenomenal.

“He will be back with us when his loan period ends and we will have a top, top player.”

Moseley is not the only link between the sides on Saturday.

Avenue’s previous manager Benny Phillips was a former assistant at Witton and brought a number of players from the club with him.

One of those was central midfielder Steve Connors, who is poised to make a return after missing a number of games with a niggling ankle injury.

“I’m hoping Steve will be fit enough to be able to play some part,” said Cameron.

“He is a very influential player and we have missed him.

“Another is Stuart Graves, who has had a persistent groin injury. Fingers crossed we will have both competing for a place in the squad tomorrow.

“On the injury front, things are looking up. I could have three big-time faces in the crowd this week because there is no room for them in the 16-man squad.

“Keeping everyone happy will be difficult but that’s my job so bring it on.”

• Avenue under-19s maintained their unbeaten run with a 4-2 win against Yorkshire Main in the Alliance League Cup. Goals from Chris McTigue, Craig Thompson, Steve Helaimia and Luke Gibson puts them through to a quarter-final tie at Scarborough.