Eccleshill head coach Lee Duxbury has targeted a late promotion push and he has two key men in his squad who he expects to make big contributions.

Eccleshill are hovering around fifth and sixth place but they need to nail down one of the top two places in the Toolstation Northern Counties East Division One if they are to go up.

There are no play-offs in this league, just two automatic promotion spots for the winners and runners-up.

A long suspension and a glut of postponements had robbed Duxbury of leading scorer Marcus Edwards for a long spell but he is back and firing again.

Duxbury said: “It’s a huge boost getting Marcus back at this time of the season and he has come back in and done well. I expect him to see the season out with us but I’ve got a lot of contacts in the game and I’ve been trying to get him a move to a Football League club.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re 19 or 25, if you’re good enough you’re good enough and I think Marcus is. I want him to have a chance and I know he can step up.

“I’ve told all my contacts that and asked them to take a chance on him.

“He has turned a corner now with his attitude and he knows not to let the opposition wind him up. I’ve told him they only do it because he’s hurting them so to let his goals do the talking.”

Duxbury feels another bonus is getting midfielder Charlie Flaherty back at the club for a second spell. The club relies heavily on players from Mark Ellis’s RIASA Academy but many of those are from the USA and when they returned home for Christmas and New Year they left a huge void at Ecclshill.

The Eagles boss knew it would be a problem and moved to bring the local lad back after a break from the game.

Flaherty had enjoyed a season with Albion Sports but his hunger for the game had waned, until Duxbury got him back to Eccleshill.

“Charlie is different class,” said Duxbury. “He is so clever with the ball, creates goals and scores goals. He makes a big difference to the team and he’s really enjoying his football here.

“He is a worker, with or without the ball he’s always aware and that makes other teams nervous. He’s great in the dressing room as well because of his attitude and he’s great with the Americans. They look up to him, he’s like a role model to them.

“He will be at this club for a lot of years to come. I want him to stay here and become a big part of this club.”