Halstead Town manager Mark Benterman is excited to see what his team can push on to achieve now they are getting clear of their “sticky patch” of injuries and absence.

Despite having a number of players out with injuries in recent weeks and striker Tom Holdstock suspended, the Humbugs have stayed in the top three in the Thurlow Nunn League division one table.

Their 1-0 win against March Town United kept them towards the top end and they will be looking to progress further when they head to Leiston Reserves tomorrow.

So Benterman is keen to see what they can do once they are appraoching full strength once more.

He said: “We can’t start worrying about other teams and looking over our shoulder.

“We have to stay positive about what we can do.

“People may think that’s arrogant, but we have to do that and the next game is now the most important one for us.

“We are in fantastic form despite having had a number of players out in recent weeks.

“James Regan is still 50-50 for Leiston, but we’ve now got Luke Banner, James Murray and Lee Clowsley all back and Tom Holdstock is back available again after his ban, but he may need more game time to get his fitness back up.

“To get players like that coming back is great and we’ve now got through a sticky patch.

“You will always have them in a season, so to get through it and still find ourselves third in the table is exciting because we know what we have coming back.”

Benterman announced two appointments to his management team this week with Liam Aves and Luke Nash coming in as joint assistant managers following the decision by Jim Holder to step down as assistant boss.