SIMON Fitter could be set for a surprise return to Evesham United's starting 11 for Saturday's second visit in four days to The Meadow in Chesham.

The midfielder, who played a huge part when Evesham reached the play-offs last term, is in line for a recall after Danny Scheppel suffered a recurrence of his knee problem after coming on as replacement on Tuesday night.

It's Chesham tenants, Aylesbury United, who will be the side looking to dent Paul West's side's impressive 11-match undefeated sequence that has left the Division One Midlands table toppers seven points clear.

Entrusted The Robins' chief wasn't happy with his side's dead-ball distribution in midweek and Fitter, who is available for the first time on Saturday since returning from Stourport Swifts, may well be the man entrusted with that responsibility.

"The quality of ball into the penalty area was pretty disappointing," West admitted. "And, most of the time it led to their best attacking moments as they caught us with men in attacking positions.

"The wind and bumpy surface didn't help and I hope that the players have learned something from the game.

"Defensively, we looked shaky but Nathan (Vaughan) has only been beaten by a penalty and that says a lot about the way we stuck to the task after conceding so early.

"We have set our standards so high that we are entitled to have an off night but we still returned home with a point from what was always going to be a tricky match."

West is hopeful that both Gary Hay and James Knott will have overcome illnesses that kept them out in midweek for his side's next test against The Ducks who are well placed for a top five finish and have lost just two of 14 games at their temporary home.

Strength in depth could be the key to United's championship chances as injuries and suspensions start to bite.

Captain Steve Lutz harshly picked up a tenth booking of the campaign at Chesham and will now miss the home games against Cinderford on March 8 and Stourbridge on March 11.

Scheppel is likely to see a specialist about his injury, while fellow midfielder Mark Hands was also struggling after Tuesday night's match.

Mark Owen netted two of his 23 goals in a 3-0 defeat of Aylesbury at st George's Lane in November and the striker will be hoping to get back on the goal trail after going five games without finding the net.

6:00pm Wednesday 27th February 2008

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