STRIKER James Stokoe could make a welcome return for Wimborne Town tonight after his three-match ban ended up stretching across seven weeks.

Bad weather prevented Magpies from completing any of their January schedule with burly frontman Stokoe’s suspension, picked up for his red card during a Dorset Senior Cup defeat at Poole in December, carrying over.

Saturday’s setback against strugglers Bishops Cleeve finally saw Stokoe serve his time, and with Steve Cuss’s charges having lost five of their past seven Southern South & West matches, his potential recall at Stratford Town (7.45) could not be better timed.

Cuss said: “It’s been tough for James having to wait so long to complete his suspension.

“We’ll have to decide whether he’ll start at Stratford or be on the bench.”

Jamie Davidson, who came on as a second-half substitute against Bishops Cleeve, could also start.

Magpies: (from) Harvell, Arnold, Oliver, Wilson, Middleton, Blake, Maybury, Sainsbury, Webb, Gamble, Griffin, Davidson, Webb, Kemble, Stokoe, Costello, Roast.

  • Adie Arnold reckons he will discover more about Verwood’s prospects this season from tonight’s trip to bottom club Romsey than he did at the weekend.

The Potters boss praised his side's performance after they rescued a late 1-1 draw at Bemerton on Saturday.

“When you go to places like Bemerton, the lads know you have to play or you will be in a bit of trouble," he said. 

“With all due respect, Romsey is a game we should be winning and that is the real test for the squad.

“I keep banging on at them about consistency so we will see how much is sinking in.”

Arnold has a full squad to choose from with goalkeeper Chris Lynch back after a one-match ban.

Elsewhere, Christchurch travel to Totton & Eling. If the fixture goes ahead, it will be Priory’s first competitive fixture for seven-and-a-half weeks.

Potters: (from) Lynch, Evans, Molyneaux, Thoroughgood, Kelly, Dyer, B Satterley, Gajic, Oldiring, Lovell, Saxby, Hill, Rutten, Murray, Elysee, Sim.

Priory: (from) Field, Steer, Blackburn, Cullen, Fairbrother, Hiscock, Burden, Cotton, Saul, Smith, Doe, Proudley, Barnes, Hanratty, Head, Sullivan.