MIDFIELDER Mark Badman can't wait to get on the scoresheet after finally kick-starting his injury-ravaged season.

Badman, 25, made his first appearance for Chippenham since September as a second half substitute against Hemel Hempstead on Saturday.

He has been plagued by an Achilles injury which forced him to sit on the sidelines until he had an operation last month.

The midfield dynamo has only scored for Chippenham in a pre-season friendly against Team Bath three years ago.

The frustrated midfielder said: "I have not scored in the league for more than three years and it's about time I got a goal for Chippenham.

"One of my aims this season was to score a few goals but to do that I have to get back into the side."

He played 20 minutes for the Bluebirds on Saturday and was happy he pulled through without aggravating his injury.

"The leg was fine, there have been no repercussions from the surgery, which is fantastic. My fitness is good as I have been in the gym throughout my injury but I need to get used to the speed of the game again," he said.

He hopes to regain his place that he made his own for the first five games of the season, but he feels he will need to improve on the short performance against Hemel.

"I did not play that well, I got the ball four times and lost it three times. I do not expect to get straight back into a winning side. The lads are doing extremely well and it will be difficult for Steve to drop them.

"At the moment I am happy to sit on the bench for a few games, try hard at training and get my form back. I did not expect my form to return straight away but it will not be long before I return to my top form."

The midfielder had to pay £600 towards the £1,800 cost of his operation but he says it was worth it.

"If I'd waited on the NHS I could have missed the whole season. It was terrible not being able to play football," he said.