Johnny Wright wants to celebrate his return from a buttock injury by being a pain in the bum to defenders in Wealdstone’s final push for promotion, writes Jon Batham.
Wright made his first start in five weeks in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Metropolitan Police and was in the Stones’ squad for last night’s (Tuesday's) game with Lowestoft where victory would take Gordon Bartlett’s side to the brink of Conference South football next season.
The timing of his return could not be better for the men of The Vale with leading scorer Scott McGleish out for the rest of the season and former Tottenham man Michael Malcolm not yet back from an eye injury.
And after spending too long sitting on his backside watching from the stands of late, the former Workington man is happy to be the butt of a few hefty challenges from centre-backs in order to see Stones over the line.
He said: “It is great to be back for crunch time because I have played about 25 games so to have not played any more would have been disappointing. I can’t get a smile off my face. I have only got six goals this year, so I’m disappointed with that return, but I’ve played out wide a fair bit, so if Scotty is injured now and I get a run it would be nice to play down the middle. I think Scotty has done more than enough for us enough with his 28 goals or however many it is, so it would be nice to clinch it at Grays on Saturday.
Promotion would give Wright the chance to return to a level he graced with some distinction as Workington skipper in the Conference North and it’s something which has clearly got the experienced front-man licking his lips in anticipation.
He said: “I’m very happy to be back and I can’t wait to win the league. I’m 28 now so I just want to get back in the highest league possible. It is not just a case of going into that league just to accept it as we will have to go again – these fans will expect us to win.”
