ROB Hopley is ready to return to Witton Albion’s attack when they resume a pursuit of table-toppers Shaw Lane tomorrow.

The front man, who has scored 22 goals in all competitions this season, was an unused substitute during a 2-0 victory at home to AFC Rushden & Diamonds in midweek.

Before that he had sat out the previous three Northern Premier League Division One South games with a toe injury.

“Rob was there if we needed him on Tuesday,” said Gary Martindale, Albion’s assistant manager.

“He’d had a go in the warm up, and come through that.

“But at 2-0 we felt comfortable, in control, and so didn’t want to risk him unnecessarily. Instead, the three or four days extra rest will hopefully have done him the world of good.”

Captain Anthony Gardner and midfielder Tom Owens (both back) are rated as ’50-50’ to feature against Chasetown at Wincham Park.

The former left the field during the opening quarter of an hour of a 2-1 win at Rugby last weekend, while Owens was substituted late on Tuesday.

However Albion have been boosted by the news that full-back Matty Devine, who aggravated a hamstring injury during a cameo as a second-half substitute against Leek a fortnight ago, is available again for selection.

Teenager Danny McKenna, after signing for Witton on dual-registration terms before last week’s deadline, impressed while filling in for the former Burscough man against Rushden.

Martindale said: “We were impressed. It’s not easy to walk into a dressing room that you don’t know, and to step up a level from what he’s been used to this season, and perform like he did.

“It’s obviously benefitted him to be playing regularly for Runcorn Linnets this season, and he’s certainly a player we’ll be keeping our eye on.”