POOLE Town boss Tom Killick praised Michael Walker's steel in returning from a serious knee injury – but admitted the centre-half might not be up to full speed until the season's dying embers.

Walker has made five appearances since his recovery from the anterior cruciate ligament damage he sustained in November 2016, including starts against St Albans City and Hungerford Town in National South.

The towering defender may yet play a pivotal role in Dolphins' survival fight and could feature when his team travel to promotion-chasing Chelmsford City on Saturday (3pm).

Discussing Walker's efforts, Killick told the Daily Echo: "His knee is okay now and he deserves an awful lot of credit for the work he has put in.

"It's very different trying to get back to fitness after an injury like that as a non-league footballer than it is a professional footballer.

"As a professional, you are going in every day and it is your job to rediscover your fitness, physically and mentally.

"I'm not saying that's not hard but for a non-league player who is at work every day and then has to do rehab on top of that, to come back is very impressive.

"It's testament to Michael's determination and mental strength that he has got himself back this quickly and looks in good shape.

"Even as a professional coming back from injury, I'd imagine you would be looking at seven to 10 games before you are back up to speed."

Walker made his return in the Dorset Senior Cup defeat to Wimborne Town at the start of March, before featuring in the 4-0 league loss to Bath City.

He again came off the bench for a 2-2 draw with East Thurrock before starting against St Albans and Hungerford.

Meanwhile, chairman Chris Reeves has insisted the Poole dressing room remains united and says survival would be met with similar celebrations to those which greeted any of the five league titles earned under Killick.

Reeves told the club website: "So often in the situation in which we find ourselves, there will be division in the dressing room. There will be cliques among the players. Not everyone will buy into a common cause.

"That is not the case with our team. The players remain united and remain committed to doing all they can to pull off one of the greatest of escapes which if achieved, would be celebrated every bit as much as any of our recent league championships.

"We all need to stick together, keep the faith and reserve any inquests until the season’s end."