GRAYS Athletic manager Jamie Stuart says the return of club icon Stuart Thurgood will give everyone at the club the boost they need to climb out of relegation trouble.

The club confirmed Thurgood would be returning early this week, having officially retired from the game back in 2010 after he suffered a serious knee injury.

However, the man who has played 242 games for Blues and helped win two FA Trophy titles could now once again pull on the club colours.

Thurgood, 34, was on the sidelines for Grays’ match with Harlow Town on Wednesday and Stuart confirmed that ‘his best friend in football’ could also be playing for the team in the coming months as well, with Blues currently in the relegation places.

“When I got the job in May I spoke with Stuart and people who were involved with the club as I wanted that strong core in place,” he said. “But with work commitments nothing could be done at the time.

“I wanted him here straight away. He can’t do Saturday matches for the next month or two, but he is great around the lads and this club means a lot to him so it is important to have him here.

“He will be taking sessions and trying to get fit and he could play a part in the team. He is hard working and will help the young players. They will be able to see that hunger and passion.”

Former Southend United man Thurgood has not been handed an official role yet although he joins as a player/coach in the interim, having studied his coaching badges back in his Tottenham Hotspur playing days.

And Stuart said having Thurgood back in the changing room can only help Grays’ plight, as they bid to find some consistency after a difficult start to the Ryman Premier League season.

“Stuart was my best friend in football and we shared a room together for six or seven years at Grays,” he said. “We are still good friends and talk a lot now and I am so pleased this has come off.

“I believe if we work hard it will even itself out,” he added. “We were very unlucky at Kingstonian (2-1 defeat). We have a young and inexperienced team and they need that game management. I was pleased and we should have taken something from it.

“But we keep going and it will. We have players back and fit and things are heading in the right direction.”

The club have also signed former Tonbridge Angels and Leatherhead midfielder Nathan Campbell.