After a five week absence due to injury Ballinamallard striker Anthony Elding is back in the squad for Friday evening’s clash with Warrenpoint at Ferney Park, and he cannot wait to get back on the pitch.

Despite his prolonged absence Elding is still the club’s top scorer this season with six goals and he will be hoping to add to that tally in what will be a huge month of fixtures for the club, starting with Friday’s encounter with bottom club Warrenpoint.

“The next month is massive for us,” he admitted. “The game Friday night is a huge six pointer. We are at home and hopefully the fans can come out and support us, because it is a massive game and the last thing we want to do it slip up at home. These are the games we should be winning so hopefully everybody can pull together and get these three points.” Elding knows that he will have to force his way back into a starting line-up that has produced some good performances in recent weeks, and admits he is not yet totally match fit after his long layoff with a tear in a calf muscle. “I trained fully with the squad for the first time this week,” he revealed. “John O’Neill, the club physio, has been fantastic in my recovery and I came through the last training session with no problems whatsoever. The calf had been bothering me in pre-season but I got through it without much hassle. Training on the astro turf and the constant pounding on it meant I needed it seen to because I couldn’t go on with it any longer. My last game was away at Cliftonville and it was obviously disappointing to be out especially with the team doing so well since that game. It’s nice to get back involved and nice to be back training with the lads again, and hopefully I’ll be playing some part in the game on Friday. I don’t know if I’m going to start the game because I have only had two training sessions before the match and Whitey might want to protect me, but if I’m needed I’m ready to come on. If I’m not needed and I am able to get another week of training and rehab under my belt, then that will help me be 100 per cent the week after.” Elding has been content with his start at Ballinamallard although it has been plagued by injuries, and he reckons once he gets back into the groove the fans will see a lot more goals from him.

“There is still a lot more to come,” he said. “Personally, I would like to think that I have done alright so far. I have moved to another country to play my football and changed to playing part time which has been difficult to adapt to when you have been a full time professional for about 17 years, so I’m still learning and figuring out the league and figuring out my teammates. It is still early doors. The injuries probably cost me five weeks and probably cost the team as well, but overall I think I have done alright. I have six goals in 13 or 14 games so I’ve been reasonably happy so far. It’s just a case of getting myself going again.” After Warrenpoint the Mallards face trips to Glentoran and Linfield before the League Cup semi-final against Ballymena back at Ferney Park.

Elding has scored the winner in a Cup Final for Sligo Rovers, and he sees no reason why he cannot add more cup success with his new club this season. “We want to carry on our good form, even though we have lost a couple recently,” he said. “I’m really confident that we can go on and win that game and get in to the final. It would be brilliant for the players and the manager, and not only Whitey but it would be great for the town. There would be a massive buzz about the place, and to get into a cup final would show massive signs of improvement on last year, and also a chance to get a bit of silverware, because winning trophies is really what we play for. I think it is a game we can most certainly win.”