Ashford United midfielder Will Duprey is back in business nearly a year after discovering he’d been playing with a fractured hip.

It’s been a long road back for Duprey, who has started the last two games - penalty shoot-out wins over Faversham and Biggleswade in the League Cup and FA Trophy respectively.

He was taken off at half-time in both as Ashford build his match fitness.

Nuts & Bolts boss Lloyd Hume is delighted to have the midfielder available but will tread carefully.

“The Trophy was what I would call his first real competitive start since November last year,” said Hume.

“We did start him on the Tuesday but that was more like a 23s game, if anything.

“He’s only had a few sessions but the reason we started him on Saturday was because if you bring him on, you don’t know how long he’s going to last.

“He did well, there’s a lot more to come from him.

“He’s ring-rusty but he works hard, he’s a keen lad, so it’s great to see him back playing for us.

“He didn’t know but he was actually playing for three or four weeks with a fractured hip and it’s where your tendons are pulling away from the hip bone, so it’s a really serious injury and it’s taken that long to get it right.

“He was half-trying to come back but it’s a long programme.

“We were paying a lot of money for him to see physios up where he lives, one in particular, because if you get it wrong, they were saying he’ll be able to play through a bit of pain but he’ll need replacement hips in four or five years if it’s not right.

“So my attitude was let’s get it 100 per cent right so you’re 100 per cent right and that’s how long it’s taken.”

Duprey only realised the extent of his injury after going to see a doctor towards the end of last year.

Hume added: “He got sent off at Merstham so he had a suspension and he said ‘that’s not a bad thing, my hip’s killing me’.

“He went to the doctor, they sent him for an X-ray and that’s when they realised what it was.

“Loads of times he’s said ‘I’m ready, I’m ready’ and I’ve said ‘you’re not ready until your physio tells me’.

“We’re taking that approach with the other injured players.

“I’m desperate to get Sam Hasler, Michael West, Barry Fuller and Joey Taylor back but, as I’ve said to them, let’s not force you into the team and have you break down again.

“We have to suffer in that wait for them to come back but any two of them in our team changes the dynamic.

“They’re main players for us, so it’ll be great if we can get a couple back in the next couple of weeks.”

Ashford beat Biggleswade 4-2 on penalties after a 3-3 draw to reach the FA Trophy first round.

They’ve drawn Bedford away on October 25.

Louis Collins levelled and Gary Lockyer scored a penalty as Ashford, playing into a strong wind, came from a goal down to lead 2-1.

The visitors equalised before half-time and went 3-2 up after the break but another goal for Lockyer made it 3-3.

The skipper also scored in the shoot-out as Taite Holtam’s penalty save helped Ashford through.

“Our ground is windy at the best of times,” said Hume, who played assistant manager Craig Stone in defence, with Will Moses suspended.

“It was predicted 45mph winds everywhere; I think it was a fair bit stronger than that at the Green Box Stadium and it was blowing directly down the ground.

“We opted to go into the wind in the first half and work really hard and hope we came in still with a game to play for in the second half.

“We conceded a sloppy goal right on half-time but at 2-2 I always fancied us to win the game.

“Second half, we played most of the game in their half - it was impossible not to - but it came down to penalties.”

Lockyer’s performance was pivotal.

Hume added: “Gary worked his socks off and he’s been working his socks off away from the club as well, doing a lot of gym work, and he’s reaping the benefit.

“He’s looking good, he’s working hard and on Saturday he was a real leader for us.”

Ashford meet VCD at Homelands this Saturday (3pm) looking for their second Isthmian South East win of the season.

The league campaign has been stop-start due to the Nuts & Bolts’ FA Cup and FA Trophy runs and they go into the weekend second-bottom.

“People keep looking at our league position and say Ashford aren’t doing very well,” said Hume.

“But if you count penalty shoot-outs, which you have to, of our last 10 games, we’ve won seven.

“I don’t see that as terrible form but our league position doesn’t show that we’re doing that great.

“VCD are going to be a hardworking team.

“We know what we’re going to get from them and if we don’t outwork them, we’ll get nothing from the game.”

Defender Joe Ellul has left the Nuts & Bolts by mutual consent.

A club statement said: “We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Joe for his hard work and commitment this season – it has been a real pleasure having him at the club.

“Everyone wishes Joe the very best for the future and every success with his next club.”

Ashford visit Deal on Tuesday (7.45pm).

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