Macclesfield's home town hero Shaun Brisley is determined to overcome his injury nightmare to play a part in what he hopes will be a successful end to a promising campaign.

The 20-year-old made his debut in Keith Alexander’s first game at the Moss Rose helm and has since established himself as a vital member of the Silkmen squad.

Now, having been sidelined since October with a recurring hip problem, Brisley is itching to return to action.

"The problem first came up at the end of last season," he said. "I hoped the lay-off over summer would help but the day-to-day work in pre-season training brought it back again.

"It was giving me a lot of groin trouble, I couldn’t open out into a full sprint and if I kicked the ball any distance I’d get a sharp pain."

Brisley, who has excelled at full-back, wing-back and in the centre of defence during his fledgling career, went under the knife in a procedure not for the squeamish.

"There was an extra bit of bone on my main thighbone," he revealed. "It was damaging my cartilage and was really giving me some pain in the groin.

"They put me out for a couple of hours and ground away at the bone to trim it down and then smooth it out.

"Since then I’ve been able to work on my upper-body strength, doing weights, getting on the bike and swimming too.

"I saw the specialist last week for a check-up and he said everything’s fine, I’ve got a good range of movement and he says I should be able to start running in a week to 10 days, and hopefully playing again in February, touch wood."

Expecting to take some time to get back to his best, Brisley is hoping he can once again feature in Gary Simpson’s plans as the Silkmen look to recover from their FA Cup drubbing at Huddersfield Town.

"I wasn’t too sorry that I didn’t go to watch the Huddersfield game to be honest," admitted the Macclesfield-born academy product.

"I am getting bored though, I’ve only played a few games at the start of the season and nothing since. But there’s nothing I can do, it’s my first real test of character since I made my debut. I think I’m coming through it OK and I hope I can get a few reserve team games under my belt soon.

"I’m itching to be playing games again. Three or four weeks out with injury you can cope with but three or four months is really tough.

"I’ve got to get my fitness and match sharpness back once I’m back playing again, it’s just like being back in pre-season training."

And, as for his team-mates’ performances in his absence, Brisley says he’s been impressed but would prefer to be in the thick of it, rather than watching frfom the sidelines.

"I’m missing out on the banter with the lads, which is tough when you can only do a solo session in the gym. There’s no easy way back but I should be back as the season’s drawing to a close. And it’ll be good if we’re going for the play-offs towards the end of the season, it’ll make a nice change for us.

"From what I’ve seen, the lads are playing well, confidence is high and Simmo’s instilled a very good team spirit. We’re doing better than everyone expected and giving even the best teams in the division a run for their money.

"It’s so far, so good, I just want to get back playing a part."

Few would begrudge him that.