Top scorer Matt Harrold insists he is ready to renew battle for Bristol Rovers after a frustrating run of injuries – and wants to finish the season with a flourish.
The target man has played only bit parts for the Pirates in recent weeks, but could be restored to the starting line-up for today's clash with Macclesfield Town at the Memorial Stadium.
Sidelined for several weeks after suffering deep bone bruising to an ankle at Barnet in the first game of 2012, Harrold then found his return to action hampered by a run of niggling injuries.
"At first I thought I might only be out for a week or two with the ankle, but it didn't settle down.
"When I did finally get over that, I had problems with a shin and then a hamstring," said Harrold.
"It got really frustrating because I just wanted to get back, score a few goals and be part of a team that was winning.
"These things happen, though, and now all I'm concentrating on is trying to finish the rest of the season.
"We're on a great run – I just wish I could have played more of a part in it. But it's great coming back into things with the team winning. We just have to keep it going now.
"I've had a good couple of weeks training, which is probably what I needed – and I'm feeling a lot fitter now.
"There's only so much you can do on the rowing machine and the bike – and it doesn't quite prepare you for running on the Memorial Stadium pitch!"
Rovers head into the clash with the Silkmen having lost only one of their last eight outings.
And after taking his goals tally to the season to 11 before he was forced out of the side, Harrold is hoping it will not be too long before he can bag his first goal of 2012.
"As a striker, you obviously want to score as many goals as you can. Although things were going well for me personally earlier in the season, they weren't going so well for the team," said Harrold.
"It's nice when you are scoring goals, but better when the team are winning. I scored twice against Plymouth earlier in the season, but we lost the game and so you don't get the same buzz as you do when you win a game in the last minute, like we did against Rotherham last weekend.
"It's more about the team and keeping the run going."
Rovers will be looking for their third clean sheet in a row against Macclesfield and have conceded only three times in the six games under new boss Mark McGhee.
Yet when Harrold suffered an ankle injury at Barnet, the Pirates had shipped 14 goals in just four matches.
"Everybody could see that was our problem before," said Harrold. "The priority now is to keep things tight and stop the other team scoring, because we have the players who can score goals and cause the opposition problems.
"Maybe we are getting a bit of luck now that we weren't getting before, but I think that sometimes you earn it by being professional."
Rovers have never won a home game against Macclesfield, despite seven previous attempts, and the two sides fought out a 0-0 draw early in the season.
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