DORCHESTER Town’s Bradley Tarbuck will not be rushed in his bid to return to the Magpies’ squad from injury, and is still “about three weeks away” from making a comeback, according to assistant-boss Nick Crittenden.

The county town playmaker and former Portsmouth man has been out since before Christmas after suffering medial ligament damage to his knee while running down the stairs at his girlfriend’s house in a freak accident.

It was thought that Tarbuck could have been close to a return earlier than the latest time- span given but the Magpies are keen not to rush the midfielder’s comeback and risk him sustaining further damage.

Asked for an update on Tarbuck’s recovery, Crittenden said: “He’s making good progress but I think he’s about three weeks away.

“I know the lad’s really disappointed. He just wants to be back playing but also you just can’t rush it too much, you have got to be careful.

“He will be a good addition when he comes back in the run-in, maybe when we have something still to play for in a month’s time.”

Also speaking about the midfielder’s injury, first-team coach Stuart Heath added: “The last thing we want to do in conditions like these and pitches like these is to bring him back prematurely and set him back.

“It’s a busy time and Bradley will almost be like a new signing when he comes back.”

Dorchester are set to host Slough Town at the Avenue tomorrow (3pm) and, after praising his side’s effort during the 1-1 draw with Cirencester in midweek, Crittenden is keen for the Magpies to write the wrongs of their 4-1 thumping at the hands of the Rebels back in October.

He added: “We owe Slough one from earlier in the season. That was probably our worst performance of the season.

“That’s another incentive for the boys and we will go again.

“We are confident that we can get revenge on Slough and keep this good run going.”

A win for the Magpies tomorrow could put them within a point of the top five.