YORK City striker Peter Duffield is just two weeks away from a comeback in the reserves and the diminutive hit-man just can't wait, writes Tony Curtis.

It has been a long road to recovery for Duffield, who will be travelling to his old hunting-ground at Feethams tomorrow to watch City face Darlington, but he has now set himself three targets to achieve.

He has already been pencilled in the reserve team clash against Blackpool on December 12 for his first game back, while he will look to follow this with a place on the first team bench before pushing for a starting spot.

After initially breaking his leg just after joining from Darlo, Duffield (pictured right) suffered a further setback when he broke the same leg - in a different position - following a training ground clash with Nick Richardson.

"It feels good now, the only problem is that I keep getting my training interrupted by these midweek games," he told the Evening Press.

"I'm struggling to find anyone to train with as the lads have been involved in games on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and even Fridays, so I keep getting days off.

"It's the only time in my career when I haven't wanted a day off!

"I'm still getting aches and pains in the groin, calf and hamstring, but that is to be expected for now. It is nothing serious.

"The good thing now is that the original injury - the really bad one - has had three to four months of extra time to heal and it doesn't hurt at all.

"I'm really looking forward to the 12th (December), so I can start kicking the ball around and getting the all-important minutes back under my belt.

"I spoke to my wife this morning about it - I can't believe it is just two weeks away."

Duffield, who says he holds no grudges to Richardson over the collision that caused the setback, now can't wait to repay the Minstermen for their help and faith in him.

"Whatever happens in my career, I will always be thankful to the club for what they have done for me and my wife," he said. "I feel I have cheated them in away. I haven't had a niggling little injury in four or five then suddenly I break my leg twice.

"I feel I've let the chairman, the management and the fans down. I've been told it is silly to feel that way, but when you've only played six times for a club you've got so much to prove.

"The fans haven't seen the best of me. First and foremost I've got to get back into the team, so the only thing I can do is give 100 per cent."

Updated: 10:40 Saturday, December 01, 2001