NEEDHAM Market are keeping their fingers crossed that key player Craig Parker recovers from a foot injury in time to face Chalfont St Peter in the quarter-final of the FA Vase at Bloomfields on Saturday.

Elvin King

NEEDHAM Market are keeping their fingers crossed that key player Craig Parker recovers from a foot injury in time to face Chalfont St Peter in the quarter-final of the FA Vase at Bloomfields on Saturday.

Free-scoring midfielder Parker suffered the injury in the previous round when Needham beat their Ridgeons League Premier Division rivals Dereham Town.

He underwent a cruciate knee ligament injury at the end of last season, and since his return to the Needham side in the autumn Danny Laws' side has only lost one game.

“Craig's injury last year cost us a place at Wembley,” said Needham chairman David Bugg.

“He played in the semi-final against Kirkham and Wesham last season, but was far from fit and did not play again as we were eventually pipped by Soham for the league title.

“It was feared that he might have broken a bone in his foot, but fortunately this is not the case.

“Physio Pat Alexander is working with him, and we are hopeful that Craig can make take his place in the side.”

Laws rates Parker as the best player in the Ridgeons League and it would be tremendous boost for Needham to have the midfielder in their starting line-up.