Ashford United’s Lloyd Hume hopes to have forward Louis Collins and midfielder Mike West back for match against Deal Town; Versatile ex-Dover Athletic defender Will Moses closes in on comeback

Lloyd Hume is looking forward to welcoming some key players back at Ashford.

Forward Louis Collins and former Football League midfielder Michael West, on loan from Whitstable, are expected to return to action after injury in time for Saturday’s home Isthmian South East derby with Deal.

Neither have featured since mid-January.

Co-owner Hume, in charge until the end of the season following Danny Kedwell’s exit last month, said: “Louis is 23 but he’s been playing at this level of football since he was 16.

“When you look at it, most players are 28 or 29 before they have his kind of experience. Louis brings a dynamic to the squad that no one else does.

“But let’s not forget Mike West has been outstanding since he came in.

“Along with Jack Dixon, who we've just signed, I’m looking forward to seeing them all play together.

"Hopefully, in the next two weeks or so, we will have a clean bill of health.

"But we’re still looking to add to the squad, as well.”

Versatile ex-Dover defender Will Moses is also nearing a return, having not played since Boxing Day.

“Will Moses is very close,” Hume confirmed. “I’m not sure we will get him back involved this week.

“He says he’s fit and, although I don’t want to take risks with a young lad, hopefully, he’ll be back soon.

"Will might be ready for Saturday. I just don’t want to rush him back.”

The Nuts & Bolts’ second game under Hume ended in a 3-1 loss at Herne Bay last weekend despite top scorer Gary Lockyer’s second-half strike.

Hume reflected: “It was a frustrating afternoon.

“I don’t want to sound like a broken record but I don’t really believe the result was a real reflection of the game. We definitely deserved something.

“Herne Bay were competitive and we knew what we were going to get