JAY Nash says he remains 'miles away' from where he wants to be as he continues to work his way back from a rotten run of luck with injuries.

The Great Wakering Rovers striker dislocated his left ankle 13 months ago on his debut for Bowers & Pitsea and has since tweaked the ligaments twice on his opposite ankle.

However, he is now enjoying an unbroken run in the Wakering team, as they continue to fight near the summit of the Essex Senior League.

Nash has scored eight goals so far this season, but he says he has a long way to go.

“It is about time,” said the 25-year-old. “I am hitting some sort of form but I am miles away from where I want to be.

“(Manager) Iain (O’Connell) and (chairman) Dave (Patient) have worked well with me as I have been down and thought about going away from the game but they have stayed with me and backed me.

“It is hard as a team trying to win the league can’t carry a player that is trying to regain fitness. But it is starting to come back and I am repaying them a bit.

“I need to get that match fitness back but I was getting obsessed with strengthening the joints and lifting too much.

“But I started the first game of the season and got my first couple of goals since I came back against Wadham Lodge.

“I rolled my right ankle in the last match against Woodford Town and I hope to be fit for Saturday but I need to be careful.”

Nash, a personal trainer, said he was told by a doctor that he might not play football again after the initial dislocation.

But he said he was determined to get back and continues to expect a lot of himself.

Nash said: “I was so frustrated as I wanted to play. The doctor said I might not be able to play again but I set myself high expectations and I was determined to reach the standards I had reached before.

“I know what I can do. I just need to get back there.”