ST Albans City manager Steve Castle has hailed the mentality of young prospect Luke Thurlbourne who has rejoined City on an initial one-month loan deal from Southend United. The tenacious midfielder has not had any match action due to serious illness

ST Albans City manager Steve Castle has hailed the mentality of young prospect Luke Thurlbourne who has rejoined City on an initial one-month loan deal from Southend United.

The tenacious midfielder has not had any match action due to serious illness since his successful loan expired with Saints at the end of last season. He featured as a second half substitute at Newport County on Saturday. Castle is delighted to have the talented youngster back in the squad although he is urging caution regarding expectations. He said: "Luke is a winner through and through and that is what we want at this football club. At the moment Luke needs minutes on the football pitch. He hasn't had any football other than training for about three or four months.

"He needs integrating in but on Saturday he showed in the time that he played that it was like he had never been away. That might be just the initial high of playing and there will be a couple of lows but there was a threat that he could be going elsewhere and we decided to take him.