AFTER going five weeks without a game, Basingstoke Town striker Delano Sam-Yorke cannot wait to return to action against Staines Town on Saturday.

The 23-year-old last turned out for Town on November 17, being sent off after an hour of his side’s 2-1 defeat at the hands of Chelmsford City.

Basingstoke then went more than two weeks without a game, while Sam-Yorke has had to watch on from the sidelines for their last three outings due to suspension.

That has now come to an end, meaning Sam-Yorke is back in contention for a place in the side this weekend.

“It has been a while since I last played and I’m buzzing to be back,” he said. “I’m looking forward to playing again and just want to get on with things.

“It’s been more than a month since I last played but I feel fully fit and raring to go. I have been working extra hard in training and doing other bits on my own as well so I’m ready to come back.”

Town fans will be hoping that Sam-Yorke’s return can spark an improvement in their side’s fortunes – but the powerful striker admits that he has no idea why the team have failed to recapture the form that took them to the play-offs last year.

“We are not doing as well as we should be doing and I’m not sure why that is,” he added. “Nobody can put their finger on what is going wrong.

“We strengthened the squad from last year as well so it’s a bit of a mystery. We’ve just not been able to pick up results.

“It’s a strange one but we just have to keep working hard and hope we get a bit of luck go our way so we can start a run like we went on last year.

“The games come thick and fast over Christmas so hopefully we can pick up some points in the festive games. I still believe we are more than capable of beating all the teams we play over Christmas and any side in the league. It’s just a case of doing it.”

Sam-Yorke was forced to watch from the sidelines as his team-mates slumped to a 3-0 defeat away at Hornchurch on Saturday. A poor second half performance was punctuated by a series of arguments within the Town ranks – but the former AFC Wimbledon man insists that there are no problems in the dressing room.

“I think that the results are starting to take their toll but the team spirit is still good and we are working hard,” he said. “Everyone is giving 100 per cent and you cannot fault the effort – we just have to try to turn it around.”