Tostevin's wait is extended by rain

SIMON TOSTEVIN'S long-awaited return to action was washed out last night. The 2006-07 Guernsey Football Association's Priaulx League player of the year and players' player of the year has been out for nine months with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

After missing the end of last season and all of this campaign so far, the 24-year-old North striker was due to play his first competitive match since his injury against Vale Rec in the Jackson League.

But a waterlogged Corbet Field pitch put paid to that and the match was postponed.

He is now set to make his comeback against St Martin's in the Priaulx League on Saturday.

'I'm disappointed not to play tonight as I've definitely missed it - I'm not the best spectator,' he said yesterday afternoon.

'I'll be happy to pull on the North shirt again.'

The 6ft 4in. Tostevin picked up his injury when he landed awkwardly during April's Jeremie Cup final.

He underwent an operation on 1 June, which resulted in him using crutches for three weeks.

Then, under the guidance of Guernsey team physio Mike Thomas and by going to his Thursday night sessions at Sylvans for injured footballers, Tostevin has been able to do light training for the last 10 weeks.

Thomas has now given him the all clear to get back onto the pitch.

'I've worked hard to get back,' said Tostevin.

'It's been a long and hard recovery with the work I've done with Mike.

'He's fantastic at what he does.

'He said that it's one of the best cruciate recoveries he's seen, which has given me confidence.'

Tostevin banged in more than 30 goals for club and island last year and North have certainly missed him this campaign along with some other injured players such as AJ Saunders, Gavin Le Page and Alex Le Prevost.

The Priaulx champions are currently third in the league and nine points behind leaders Bels.

'The way I've seen them playing this season, they've had lots of crosses into the box but they have not been put into the net,' he said.

'I'd like to think that I'd get on the end of a couple of them.'

Along with helping reverse North's fortunes, Tostevin also has May's Muratti in his sights.

He was in line to make his debut against Jersey in last year's match but his injury ruled him out.

He also had to watch the Upton from the sidelines.

'I want to play and score some goals, but to be honest I'm looking at the Muratti,' he said.

'I want to play in that. I ended up missing out on the two big games last year.

'Winning the awards was great, but they don't make up for the disappointment of missing out on those two matches.'