Simon Weaver backing fit-again Jack Muldoon to help drag Harrogate Town to League Two safety

The veteran attacker made his first appearance in three weeks when he came off the substitutes’ bench during the latter stages of Saturday’s 1-0 home defeat to Salford City.

Back available for selection having recovered from a knee injury, the 36-year-old’s inclusion in Weaver’s match-day squad came as something of a surprise after it was announced that he could potentially miss the rest of the season.

But the Town boss has explained that the severity of that knee cartilage issue was initially misdiagnosed, meaning that his seven-goal leading scorer is now primed and ready to do his bit in trying to lift the club out of the relegation zone.

His first start since late January then followed in midweek, and Muldoon delivered a typically industrious display leading the line as a crucial 3-0 success at Tranmere was secured.

“It is big to have Mullers back. We need him now,” Weaver said. “He has been missing for some months with various injuries and it is an opportunity for him to dig us out, like he has done before.

"We are in a much healthier and better state when Mullers is around and available for action. He has to remain fit for us, that is his desire and mine too, because he is so influential.

“He was champing at the bit [on Tuesday night]. There was no way he looked 36 years of age out there. He looked quicker than ever.

"He was just Mullers. Full of mobility and a real handful. He was never a standing target.”

It looked entirely possible that Muldoon may not play again this term after he pulled up in training at the back end of February, but after a season like no other in terms of bad news on the injury front, Weaver was pleased to discover that this particular issue was not actually as bad as first thought.

"He has done well to get back fit, but it was a previous injury which showed up on his scan, so the diagnosis at the time meant that we thought the injury was worse than it was,” the Harrogate boss explained.

"Scans can be read incorrectly sometimes, and understandably so, but fortunately for us, it [the severity] is better than we thought it was.”

Muldoon’s return comes at a time when Weaver has been boosted by a number of players being discharged from Town’s treatment room.

The Sulphurites have endured a torrid time with injuries this term, and have had as many as 12 players sidelined on a couple of occasions.

But, with the likes of Lewis Cass, Tom Hill, Tom Bradbury and Stephen Duke-McKenna all having begun full training again in recent weeks, the Town boss now has a wealth of options at his disposal.

Midfielder Ben Fox and forward Aiden Marsh remain some way away from a return, though otherwise, the Harrogate squad is looking pretty healthy at present.

"There’s a lot of players out there training now, and we are looking a lot healthier,” Weaver added.

"But, it is now about trying to get them razor-sharp. Some of them have been out for quite some time and they are returning well, but it is now just about energy.

"It is about that sharpness with the ball, and that is what we are trying to work on in training.”

Town return to League Two action this Saturday when they visit in-form Oldham Athletic (3pm).