GOALKEEPER Simon Evans will return to action tomorrow following a five-month lay-off when Dorchester Town take on Dorset Sunday League side Springfield Hotel at the Avenue Stadium (3pm).

The ex-Weymouth stopper underwent knee surgery last month and Magpies’ boss Ashley Vickers is full of praise for the determination he has shown in his bid to regain the number one spot at the Blue Square Bet South club.

He said: “Simon has worked his socks off to get back fit following his knee injury and that tells me a lot about him.

“He has returned quicker than I ever expected and it is that type of commitment I am looking for from all my players.

He will play a half tomorrow and I am looking forward to seeing how he performs.”

Regan Coward played the full 90 minutes in the 3-3 draw with Crystal Palace on Wednesday night while trialist Mike Hookway has made three appearances in pre-season – the last of which coming in the second half of Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Dagenham & Red-bridge.

Vickers added: “I have already been quoted as saying there is currently no number one at the club and to be fair all three keepers are working hard to make that jersey theirs.

“Regan played the full 90 on Wednesday and did his chances no harm but I will continue looking at all three over the next couple of weeks and just go from there.”

Of tomorrow’s lowly opponents, the Magpies’ manager said: “They play a lot further down the pyramid but they’re not a bad side. The guy who runs the team has kindly offered us use of the hotel’s facilities, which is great, and hopefully tomorrow will be a nice day for them and their supporters.

“We won’t approach the game lightly but it will be a chance to play some of the trialists we have and some of the players on the periphery of the first team.”

The match with Springfield, for which admission is free of charge, could be the last chance saloon for some of the county town hopefuls.

Vickers added: “Slowly but surely we will cut the trialists back and see where we go from there.”