A combination of injuries and bad weather have restricted Ian Simpemba to only four appearances in the past two months – and the Whites captain isn’t happy about it.

The 29-year-old Dubliner said: “It’s been so frustrating not being able to play for the past couple of weeks because of the weather, especially as I missed the whole of December through injury, and now I’m just hoping that Saturday’s game (against Truro) goes ahead.”

Simpemba’s problems began when he was carried off against Bromley on December 1 with a recurrence of an old knee ligament injury and then his return to the side was delayed when he tweaked a hamstring in training.

But the experienced centre-half, who moved to Crabble from Ebbsfleet United a year ago, says he is now “fit and raring to go” and determined to help Whites end their recent poor run.

He said: “It’s been a real yo-yo lately in terms of our results. We could have gone top if we had won on Boxing Day but instead we end up losing five on the bounce. But a couple of results will put us back in the mix.”