POOLE Town could do with an heroic figure if they are to beat the National South drop – step forward the talisman who says he feels like Peter Pan.

It has been a long road back for defender Michael Walker but the influential centre-half believes he is in better shape now than ever having recovered from a serious knee injury which plagued him for 16 months.

November 2016 was the last time the powerful centre-half was able to don a Dolphins shirt in a league fixture.

Tom Killick’s side suffered a 3-2 defeat at Concord Rangers, during which a freak accident occurred when Walker landed awkwardly, damaging his anterior cruciate ligament.

Dolphins went on to finish fifth that season. Walker was forced to watch as Poole were denied the chance to compete in the play-offs due to issues with their Tatnam headquarters.

Surgery was required the following summer as the former Weymouth and Wimborne Town man sought to stage a comeback.

He has since put in the hard yards and returned for the final 10 minutes of the club's Dorset Senior Cup semi-final exit at the hands of rivals Wimborne earlier this month.

But the main challenge is now ahead as Walker bids to help save Dolphins from walking the plank back to the Southern League.

“I’m 34 but I feel like I’m 24,” the no-nonsense centre-half told the Daily Echo.

“I’m like Peter Pan! I feel in the best condition I have ever been in because I have been doing all this strength and conditioning work. There are a few more years left in me yet.

“In the past two weeks it has been a joy to get back fully involved with the boys. The knee feels good and strong. At first I was a bit wary. It was nice to get that first whack just to see what it was all about.

“For something that was a freak accident, to look back on it now, it has been a rollercoaster ride.

“A lot of lads have been through the same thing and they know it’s a hard process. It’s a test for any individual but when there is light at the end of the tunnel, you can’t wait.

“I have been like a dog on a lead, people have had to rein me in a bit but I just want to get going now. Especially with the team being where we are.

“I don’t know if I will be a hero for them but, hopefully, I can be like a new signing and give them a lift. If I can be there with the boys and give them some leadership, we might stand a chance.”

With his side three points from safety facing 10 games to escape the bottom three, Walker may still look to get a development game under his belt before making a league return.

Determined not to be Dolphins’ forgotten man, he admitted had Poole’s season gone differently, there may not have been a place for him.

He added: “The gaffer may take the risk and chuck me in, you never know. I will just take it one step at a time. If we were flying, he might have pied me off but that’s football. It has been a long time coming.”

Walker’s rehabilitation has been overseen by Poole Town physio Ben Hayes, whose Active Health Care Practice clinic is based at the David Lloyd club in Poole.

Explaining the recovery process, the defender added: “We have gone through a strength and conditioning programme and done a lot of plyometrics, which is good for the knee and the rehabilitation side.

“I’d like to give thanks to Ben because he has done a lot of work with me, not just when football has been on, but in his own time as well as mine. That has been over a process of 12 months.

“We have done a lot of strength and core work to make sure everything, in a slow process, is getting the knee stronger.

“It’s been a pleasure to work alongside him. He has been through it as much as I have.”