SAM CORCORAN says he's delighted to be back in a Claret shirt after coming through his first full game since returning to the club.
The midfielder was a mainstay of the first-team last term but picked up a foot injury in pre-season and found himself without a club for the first part of the season.
But he played 120 minutes on Tuesday night as City came back from the dead to beat Dover Athletic 4-2 after extra time in the FA Trophy third qualifying round, having made just a couple of substitute appearances.
"I never wanted to leave in the first place," Corcoran told the Chronicle. "It's a great club and they always held my registration.
"It was just that one or two things needed to be sorted out.
"It was great to come through a full 120 minutes and it feels like I'm back now."
Last weekend's 3-1 FA Cup triumph over Colchester United was especially poignant for Corcoran as he came through the npower League One club's academy system.
"I came off the bench for the last twenty minutes and it was a great day for the club," he said.
"It was great to see a lot of old friends and all that."
The schemer admits the four-and-a-half months he spent out injured were the hardest of his career to date after breaking the fifth metatarsal in his foot during a pre-season fixture.
"It's been the hardest thing yet but I've come back a stronger person I think," he said.
"When my foot was in a cast it was difficult to do much at all."
Now he's focussed this weekend ahead of City's trip to Basingstoke.
"It's great to be doing well in the cups but we've got to get on and up the league," he said.
Justin Miller (calf) is struggling to be fit for Saturday after limping off on Tuesday night. David Bridges is also struggling with a twisted ankle, while Corcoran himself has an ankle problem too.
Manager Glenn Pennyfather was pleased with his team's performance on Tuesday night.
"We've certainly given people value for money haven't we?" he said.
But he knows it has to translate into some tangible come the final reckoning.
"You've got to be successful at the end of the season though and we want it where it really matters and that's in the league and in the trophy."
In the next round of the trophy City will play Hampton & Richmond Borough who were relegated from Blue Square Bet South last season.
When asked if his side could realistically go on and win the FA Trophy Pennyfather said: "It's about the luck of the draw.
"We've proved what we can do, we beat League One team in top form the other day so there's the opportunity but we'll see."
