BEN Thomson remains in Weymouth’s plans for the 2023/24 season, manager Bobby Wilkinson has confirmed.

Thomson struggled for fitness upon his return to the Terras last season, suffering a nasty ankle injury on his second debut at Welling United in November.

After sitting out 18 fixtures, he would go on to make four more substitute appearances for the remainder of the campaign.

His one start came in the Dorset Senior Cup final loss at Poole, where he was taken off after 38 minutes with a hamstring injury.

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He did not score or assist and played just 122 minutes of football in his comeback season.

The popular striker, who has 261 appearances, 66 goals and 47 assists for Weymouth, must now prove his fitness to earn a deal.

Wilkinson shed light on the forward’s situation, telling Echosport: “Thommo’s way in my plans, he’s just proving (his) fitness at the moment.

“We’ve got him doing some one-on-one sessions, got him out doing some good training. Thommo is still a big part of the future at Weymouth.”

Weymouth have already made 19 deals this summer, including the services of four strikers as Dan Roberts, Tom Stagg, Norman Wabo and Brandon Goodship have committed to the Terras.

On the likelihood of Thomson securing a contract, Wilkinson added: “It just depends if he gets through all his injuries and clears up.

“Thommo, we are 99 per cent sure, will be with us next year. It will depend on how he recovers from the injuries because we signed him in November and he didn’t really play any minutes.

“We’re taking that slow, but we’re working extremely hard to get him fit.”

With Thomson’s past injury record, Wilkinson faces a similar task to that of Ahkeem Rose last season, given his struggles with hamstring strains.

Rose was wrapped in cotton wool as Wilkinson and his backroom staff devised a special plan to manage the Jamaican’s fitness.

The striker was often seen warming up five minutes before the start of second halves throughout the season.

Asked how confident he is of solving Thomson’s injury problems, Wilkinson said: “I’m quite confident, he’s in a positive mood.

“I know he’s working extremely hard and that’s all I can ask him to do. He wants to be at the football club and we want him.”

Meanwhile, Weymouth are waiting on the availability of Singapore-based Hari McCoy for next season.

The winger made four appearances for the Terras last season and was drafted in as cover for injuries.

Wilkinson added: “Hari’s gone back home at the moment, so we’ll wait and see where his future is.

“We don’t know at the moment, that one’s still ongoing.”