FORMER fans' favourite Neil Illman is poised for a return to Northwich Victoria.

The striker, whose first spell at the Drill Field ended controversially when he was one of five players struck off the wage bill in 1999, trained with the squad last night (Tuesday).

Manager Jimmy Quinn, who has been trying to sign a new forward for almost two months, is hoping Illman will put pen to paper later this week.

The Doncaster-born player is moving back up to the north west following a spell in Conference football with Stevenage Borough.

He began his career at Middlesbrough before moving to Plymouth Argyle, from where he joined Vics in 1998.

Illman, 26, is still short of full fitness and hasn't been in his usual prolific form this season, although he did score against Northwich in December before Stevenage's lights failed and the match was abandoned.

But with 42-year-old Quinn keen to have a proven forward to take his own place alongside Gregg Blundell, he is hopeful he has got the right man for the job.

"He's played against us a couple of times and he always looks a threat and looks like he's going to score," said Quinn.

"Neil will give us a little bit extra and take a bit of the workload off Gregg. I'm playing at the moment and will do in the next couple of games until he is fit, but hopefully when he's in the team he will score the goals to get us in the top half of the table."

Illman's imminent arrival could spell the end for Adie Mike, who missed Saturday's 3-2 defeat at Boston after picking up an injury in training.

Mike has been on the transfer list for two months, but no serious offers have yet been made for the want-away striker.

Vics have two home Nationwide Conference games this week, against Leigh RMI on Saturday (3pm) and Morecambe on Tuesday (7.45pm).

Although Boston United prevented Northwich doing an FA Trophy and league double over them, Quinn says the players' reaction to the defeat has given him confidence they can bounce back.

He said: "The lads were disappointed to lose to the top team and that says a lot, it shows the progress we've made.

"We gave away two bad goals and we haven't done that for a while. If we hadn't made the mistakes we might have won the game or got a draw out of it.

"We've got three home games coming up out of four so it's important to get back on track and we're all looking forward to doing that."

Vics and the FA have agreed to Vauxhall Motors' request to shift their FA Umbro Trophy fourth round tie to Sunday, February 3 (3pm) in order to maximise the crowd potential at Rivacre park.

A supporters' bus will leave the Drill Field at 1pm. Places are £5 (£4 concessions).