IT may be several weeks before Warrington Town fans see Jordan Buckley back at his best again, manager Mark Beesley says.

Yellows’ top goalscorer returned with a substitute appearance during last weekend’s FA Trophy defeat to Morpeth Town having missed four games due to undergoing surgery.

Ahead of Saturday’s Northern Premier League Premier Division clash with Lancaster City, Beesley says they will continue to “take it easy” with the striker, who has scored nine times in 16 appearances this season.

“It’s good to have him back,” he said.

“He’s had an illness that’s required surgery so he has to make his way back slowly.

“We’ve got to take it easy with him – it will be a few weeks before he’s back to where he was so we will take our time with him.”

Saturday’s game at Cantilever Park sees two sides in good recent form go head-to-head.

Josh Amis celebrates the winning goal in Yellows 1-0 victory at Lancaster in the reverse fixture in September. Picture by Karl Vallantine

Josh Amis celebrates the winning goal in Yellows 1-0 victory at Lancaster in the reverse fixture in September. Picture by Karl Vallantine

Yellows are unbeaten in their past seven league games while Lancaster have won five of their last six outings in all competitions.

That run includes ending Buxton’s unbeaten start to the league season with a 1-0 victory last month.

“They’re all tough and we’ve had some very tough games against Lancaster in the past. They are always competitive when we play them,” Beesley said ahead of his first league game in charge.

“They’ve lost one or two players but they’re on a good run and beat Buxton a couple of weeks back which nobody else has done in the league.

“We’ve got to be ready for it and we will need to be at our best to come through it.”

Yellows will be without Mitch Duggan through suspension after he accumulated five yellow cards in league fixtures, so Evan Gumbs could be in line for his first start since joining Yellows permanently prior to last season.

The former Tranmere man has been beset by serious injuries since his arrival at Cantilever Park but having built up match fitness on loan at Runcorn Linnets, he could step in at centre-half alongside skipper Mark Roberts.

Striker Buckley and midfielder Jay Harris could also come back into the starting 11 having appeared off the bench against Morpeth.