Phil Trainer on the verge of AFC Telford milestone

Should he be involved tomorrow, the Darts' visit to the New Bucks Head will mark his 200th competitive appearance for the club.

It's a fixture that has already provided some very happy memories for the Wolverhampton-based player this season.

He scored a 30-yard thunderbolt during the Bucks 4-1 win – arguably their best display of the season and their last league win – at Princes Park in October.

Telford go into this weekend's game on the back of a 29-match winless run in the Blue Square Bet Premier.

The squad may well undergo a significant summer overhaul following Telford's relegation, confirmed last Saturday after a 3-0 home defeat against Nuneaton.

But Trainer, who joined the club from Oxford United in 2009, has pledged his commitment to the re-building effort at the New Bucks Head for as long as possible.

"I think it is an achievement at any club to get 200 appearances at any level but Telford is a good club, I have enjoyed being here and hopefully there are many more appearances to come.

"I am getting older but if I can keep adding to those appearances, that would be great.

"I will be here as long as the club wants me here and I will give my all as long as they want me here.

"I love being here and before I retire or move on, whichever comes first, I would like to get Telford back to where I think they really belong, which is at Conference Premier level."

Trainer played a crucial part in Telford's rise to the top-tier of non-league football two years ago.

He scored a dramatic late winner in the 2011 Blue Square Bet North play-off final against Guiseley – and is bitterly disappointed to endure relegation this season.

But Trainer believes that the recent influx of three academy players into the first team bodes well for the future.

James O'Neill, Tom Bradley and Jake Bennett have all been promoted from the youth set up in recent weeks under caretaker manager John Psaras.

And Trainer, who has been assisting Psaras along with Ryan Young and Alex Meechan following previous boss Graham Hyde's departure last month, said: "It's been a shame this season.

"But, no doubt, next season we will go again and, hopefully, get some more young players in like O'Neill and the other two lads who have come in from the youth team.

"With a bit of experience hopefully we will be challenging for promotion next season. I remember when I was a young lad making my debut. The experienced lads helped me through it."

All three could well be involved tomorrow as Ryan Valentine (groin), Luke Hubbins (knee), Ian Craney (groin) and Steve Jones (calf) are all injury doubts.

Defender Simon Ford (hamstring) could return.