Danny Wright aiming for early return from injury

Torquay United fans will be buoyed by the news that leading scorer Danny Wright is expected back from injury sooner than expected - possibly for the last dozen games of the National League season.

The Gulls' veteran centre-forward is hoping as fervently as anyone that the competition, currently wracked with uncertainty over a funding row, is allowed to run its full course.

Wright, 36, hit his eighth goal in 16 games early in the 6-1 rout of West Country rivals Yeovil Town on Boxing Day, but then limped off before half-time with a hamstring tear which required surgery.

It was feared that it might be Easter at the earliest before he could return, but manager Gary Johnson revealed this week: "Danny might not be out as long as we feared.

"He still has a fair bit of rehab to go, but he's feeling good and he might be back with us in four weeks."

If Wright could rejoin United's league and FA Trophy 'double' drive in time to make a real impact, it would be a huge boost.

Since he was injured, the Gulls have won two of seven NL games, although they have won two other Trophy ties and they will head into Saturday's BT Sport live TV home game against FC Halifax Town (5.20pm) still with a healthy lead.

A rare break without a game, including last Saturday's postponement at Woking, has allowed the Gulls to cut their daunting injury-list, which stood at 12 players before the 1-1 draw with Wealdstone nine days ago.

Armani Little, Dean Moxey and Ben Wynter could all be fit to face Halifax followed by Solihull Moors away next Tuesday, with Connor Lemonheigh-Evans also back from suspension.

There is another ten days before the current vote of all 66 NL clubs, on whether to halt the season or carry on, is totted up.

But several sides, including 'Premier' outfit Dover Athletic, have started unilaterally pulling out of matches, citing lack of funds.

Johnson insists: "I think that most of the NL teams would like to carry on, and I am still optimistic that we will."