by Craig Tucker

Sittingbourne joint-manager Jim Ward is confident club captain Simon Pettit will have a big role to play in the second half of the season.

The midfielder, pictured, was expected to miss the entire campaign with an Achilles injury, but made his Brickies debut as a substitute in the 2-1 New Year’s Day defeat at Maidstone.

He’s since joined Kent Hurlimann League Deal on loan to work on his fitness, but could be back at Bourne Park by the end of the month.

Ward said: "Pettit’s had another scan, just to make sure everything’s okay, but we think he’s all right now.

"He’d struggle to play Saturday-Tuesday at the moment so we’ve sent him to Deal to try and get some minutes, but he might even be back playing for us before the end of January."

Pettit’s return to fitness is timely, with fellow midfielder Jason Dolby leaving the club due to work commitments.

Top scorer Ryan Golding, meanwhile, should be fit after his hamstring injury for Brickies’ Ryman League, Division 1 South match at Walton & Hersham on Saturday.