Sean Clancy raring to go for AFC Telford

The 27-year-old is good friends with defender Joe Partington, who is on loan at the Spitfires from Championship leaders Bournemouth.

Clancy, who broke his ribs and collarbone against Altrincham in November, is back in the squad for the trip to the Silverlake Stadium.

He said: "Partington is a centre-half and he's a good mate of mine so I am looking forward to seeing me old mate, touching base and playing against him – and taking three points off him."

Clancy insists that regardless of friendship, he will be full-focused on helping the Bucks take another big step in their battle against relegation from the Conference Premier.

Telford start the game nine points from safety, at the foot of the Conference Premier. Victory will move them up to two places and could cut that gap.

He said: "That is what we are going there for. We have got to win games and there's got to be no holding back. We need to win."

The former Fleetwood Town and Kidderminster Harriers player has missed Telford's last 16 matches in league and cup.

But in training he has impressed manager Steve Kittrick, who arrived in December while Clancy was sidelined.

Kittrick said: "When I first got injured I was in a sling so I couldn't really exercise – but the last few weeks I have been joining in training.

"At first it was on a non-contact basis and the first time I really got involved was when Steve Kittrick first took over as manager.

"I couldn't really go full pelt and I couldn't do certain things, so I was worrying about that.

"If there's certain things you can't do, you are always worrying if people watching ¬don't think you are good enough.

"But he has been very supportive, patient, and he said 'you are ready when you are ready.'

"He's given me the time that I needed and, luckily, now I have hit that time."

Clancy suffered his injury in a heavy fall but is adamant that there will be no hangover, physical or psychological, when he returns to the fray.

He said: "When you start training it goes out of your head. Your mind is on other things. I'll try my best and give everything for the team."

The Bucks go into tomorrow's game aiming to shake off a first league defeat in five matches, a 1-0 loss at home to Halifax a week-and-a-half ago.

Prior to that, Telford claimed eight points from a possible 12. Clancy said: "There's still plenty to play for.

"I still believe that we won't go down. We will stay up and that is the only thing in my mind. I am not even thinking about anything else.

"I think we have started improving as a team and a squad and I think the results are going to come."

Kittrick will have a strong squad to choose from this weekend although midfielder Jack Rea is a doubt because of the ankle injury he sustained early into the Halifax game.