DAVE Bampton believes he is close to producing his best form for Worcester City.

The former Swindon midfielder struggled with injury during the early part of the season but has since justified rave reviews from boss Richard Dryden.

An ankle problem sustained on the opening day of the campaign and aggravated at Bognor Regis in the Setanta Shield last month kept Bampton on the sidelines until the 3-1 victory at Welling.

The 23-year-old has since started every game for City and produced excellent tough-tackling displays against AFC Wimbledon and Redditch.

He said: “I am pleased to be back in the side and playing regularly.

“I am getting match fit and played 90 minutes on Monday. I feel fit, sharp and am getting better with each game and close to firing on all cylinders.”

Dryden hopes to name an unchanged team today at Havant and Waterlooville but Bampton is aware he can take nothing for granted.

Bampton said: “My job is to keep things ticking over and let the other three midfielders go and play. I just need to do a job for the team and let the others push on and do the attacking side. I suppose my role is quite an important one.

“There’s a lot of competition for midfield places. We are all doing OK but we know there are players to come in if we don’t perform.”

Following the Hampshire trip, City face matches against Team Bath and Maidenhead in quick succession and Bampton reckons Worcester will learn a lot about their own Blue Square South promotion credentials.

He added: “I think all three sides will be in the top half of the table at the end of the season and they will be a big test for us.”

Follow City’s match with Havant today live online at worcesternews.co.uk/wcfc