James Comley looks set to return to St Albans City’s match-day squad for Saturday’s visit of Concord Rangers after missing three games.

The captain scored and then limped out of the Saints’ 2-1 loss to Sutton United on December 28 with a hamstring injury, which forced him to miss league games against Hemel Hempstead, Gosport Borough and Boreham Wood.

He played 45 minutes in Tuesday’s Herts Senior Cup win over Hadley at Clarence Park and, after the game, was feeling no ill effects.

“It was my first run out in about two weeks and I felt alright,” he said. “It felt good to get 45 minutes in me and now it’s just about getting ready for Saturday. I’ve got to do some strengthening but hopefully I’ll be in contention.”

Comley is not expecting to waltz back into the side. In his stead, Sam Corcoran, Charlie Gorman and Omar Beckles have played well.

“The boys in centre midfield have done well so I’m not expecting to come straight back in. I’ve got to be right and ready to earn my place back,” he said.

Comley will be hoping that comes this Saturday so he doesn’t have to agonise on the sidelines for another week.

“I’ve never liked watching football,” he joked. “I look at games and think ‘I could have done a bit there.’

“I wish I was out there but the boys are doing well; they had a good result against Gosport and were unlucky in a couple of others.”

If he isn’t 100 per cent, joint manager James Gray is not going to risk his captain.

“It was precautionary to only give him 45 minutes and he didn’t look right out there. He wanted to test it but he wasn’t moving right,” he said.

“He was holding himself back but that’s understandable beacuse you know what hamstrings are like. If you come back too soon you could be out for four to six weeks.”

Saturday’s game at Clarence Park kicks off at 3pm.