PHIL Simkin is set to welcome back Nathan Walker to his squad for their first home game of the season against Hereford United tomorrow (3pm).

The Magpies’ skipper has missed their opening two contests of the Southern Premier League campaign, but could come straight into the Dorchester starting XI for their clash with the Bulls.

And the fact that the influential centre-half is set to make his first league appearance this term has made manager Simkin extremely happy.

He told Echosport: “It’s a massive boost to have him back, both on and off the pitch.

“He is a larger than life character, a good captain and it’s great to have him back.”

The county town chief is now looking to build up a head of steam in their league fixtures, following the resounding 5-1 win at Burnham on Tuesday.

They face an unfamiliar test in Hereford, who have endured a summer of turmoil in dropping down to the Southern Premier League after huge financial problems.

This was worsened for the Bulls when majority shareholder Tommy Agombar had to walk away on Tuesday after the club’s first league match earlier this week, after he failed the FA’s fit and proper person’s test.

Before his solitary game at the helm against St Neots, fans gathered outside Edgar Street in protest of Agombar.

“I don’t know too much about them and I’m trying to get as much information as I can before the game, but I don’t think anybody knows much about them at the moment,” Simkin added.

“We just want to keep it going and get a run of positive games now. With last season, it has been a long hard haul to get back to any normality and it would be a real boost to get two wins in a row, I can’t remember that last time we did that.

“We are looking to build on Tuesday night, it’s amazing the confidence a win like that gives you, the lads were all buoyant on the way home and I’d like to think that we are on our way now.”

Dan Smith (dead leg) and Tuesday’s hat-trick hero Nick Crittenden (hip) are slight doubts, but the Magpies’ boss is hopeful that they will both feature.

Magpies (from): Walker-Harris, Hangar, Buckley, Smeeton, S Walker, N Walker, Agbo, Lanahan, Crittendon, Godfrey, Gleeson, Cann, Joyce, D Smith, S Smith, Brooks, Murphy