SIX weeks after a horror injury looked to have completely de-railed Jesse Stephens’ season, the Diamonds defender is back on the training track, hoping to play by late July.
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Last year’s best on ground in the cup final fractured his collar bone in two places in a sickening collision with Nick Higgins in early April.
Diamonds, buoyed by a 4-2 win against Melrose last week, take on Albury United at home tomorrow.
Stephens said there was plenty of improvement in the side.
“It wasn’t the complete performance but a good result against one of the top teams,” he said.
“I think we have about 20 to 30 per cent improvement in us, the defence will get better with Dan Millynn to come back in and hopefully I can help too when I come back with about five rounds to go.
“I think the boys would say they could have been better last week and I’m sure (coach) Jimmy (Bell) has dealt with that at training through the week.”
Albury United were too good for St Pats last week, winning 5-0.
But coach Adam Carty said the scoreline wasn’t indicative of how they controlled the game.
“We had about 80 per cent of possession but we were able to play a couple of young guys too and they got on the scoreboard as well so that was a positive,” he said.
“We’ll have a different line-up this week and I guess the lack of continuity is my greatest concern.
“At the same time I’d like to think we would be stronger this week — our captain is back (Elliott Jones), Caleb Martin should be back from injury and Simon Flower is another we would like to bring in.”
We’ll have a different line-up this week and I guess the lack of continuity is my greatest concern UNITED COACH ADAM CARTY