Dave Symington made a welcome return to the Borough Park pitch on Saturday, although it will be a couple of months before he is back playing again.

Symington, a key member of the Workington Reds squad, had undergone a knee operation during the summer and it’s been a long road back to fitness.

But he was out on the pitch before the Evo-Stik Premier game with Grantham Town, kicking a ball for the first time.

Reds joint boss Dave Hewson said: "Dave has been doing his own rehab work, with some running etc, but it was great to see him actually back kicking a football.

"He has been a miss for us because he is a big character in the dressing room and we know how much he contributes on the field.

"We can’t hurry him back from this kind of operation, however, and it’s likely to be January/February before he’s able to get back playing again."

Symington was one of five Reds players who were due to have operations after last season.

Dan Wordsworth and Scott Allison have been able to play for much of the season so far but Josh Calvert has only figured in the last two games as a sub. The fifth player, Phil McLuckie, has still to be given confirmation of his operation.

The absence of their experienced players has been a major contributory factor to Reds’ poor start to the season.

They currently sit next to bottom of the Evo-Stik Premier League, some seven points off safety.