Graham Heathcote, manager of Blue Square Premier club Altrincham, has moved to reassure worried supporters that Colin Little is not about to hang up his scoring boots.
Rumours have been circulating that the prolific Alty marksman may be forced to retire as he battles to overcome a knee injury.
But they were scotched by Heathcote, who stressed that Little was counting the days to his comeback and could even be in line for a recall at Rushden & Diamonds a week on Saturday.
Heathcote said: “I have seen one or two posts on the fans' website, suggesting Colin may be contemplating calling it a day, but, let me assure you, nothing could be further from the truth.
“I know it's not the norm for him to be sidelined for so long, but he's not immune to injury, unfortunately. It is the first he's had for a while, but the fact is he jarred his knee against Chester, and it has taken some time to settle down.
“But let me underline, again, there is no question of him quitting. The time scale has been frustrating, but he has no intention of finishing. His appetite for playing is as keen as ever, and he can't wait to get back. One thing we have never done at this club, and never will, is rush players back. It's not fair on the player to do that, and it can be counter-productive, because they can end up in a worse state than ever.
“They come back when they are ready and fit enough to do themselves justice, and we are almost at that stage with Colin. A week on Saturday is a possibility for him. We are looking at that, and it will be good to have him back, because we haven't got that many natural goal grabbers.”
