KRIS Newby says he is returning to his old self at the right time, after shrugging off a host of injury problems to play a part in East Thurrock’s promotion charge.

The winger has had a season heavily interrupted by injuries and fitness concerns, having sustained a dislocated elbow in an FA Cup match back in September – an incident which saw the game abandoned.

Newby, 28, returned to the fold earlier than expected, in what is his third spell at the club, before spending a loan spell at Great Wakering Rovers to improve his sharpness.

He scored just his second goal since that injury in last Saturday’s 4-1 win over VCD Athletic and he says he is now ready to help Rocks to promotion in the Ryman Premier League, starting with victory over Harrow Borough tomorrow.

“We have an outside chance of winning it still but we know is will take something of a miracle for Hampton & Richmond Borough to slip up but we are just focusing on our games and trying to win each of them and get a top three finish.

“That would guarantee a home play-off semi-final but we want to finish second of course. Our away record has been very good this season but I think getting that home semi-final is psychologically important as teams don’t want to come here and play us.

“A few of the boys have said an away semi-final would be good but I think getting it at Rookery Hill is important.

“Injuries and what happened to my elbow was a major setback and this is one of my most frustrating ever seasons,” he added. “I am normally a player that can fall back on my work rate if I am not playing at my best but with my fitness problems and putting on a bit of weight I haven’t been able to do that.

“But I am feeling trim now and am ready for the run in. The buzz around the club is superb and I am really excited about what we can achieve.”

Harrow sit 16th in the standings although are not at danger of relegation, but Newby says the match will be far from easy.

And he says he would love to get another goal, in what he now says is a “collector’s item”.

“The teams that can’t go up and can’t go down definitely pose a threat,” he said. “That was the case at Leatherhead and that defeat was a huge blow to our hopes of winning the league.

“Harrow will provide a tough test and we need to match them. We don’t want to give them a sniff as when we come flying out the blocks teams find it hard to keep pace with us.”

“It was good to get the goal as they are becoming a bit of a collector’s item,” he laughed. “I was really struggling with injuries so to get a run in the team and score was a nice feeling. It was good to hear the fans respond to it as well.