DORCHESTER Town’s next four league games can’t come quick enough for defender Steve Walker.

The centre-half missed Saturday’s hammering by Boreham Wood as he started a five-match ban following his red card at Weston-super-Mare, his second of the campaign.

But, when he eventually becomes available for selection again, Walker has every intention of reclaiming his place in the Magpies’ line-up.

And the 23-year-old is eager for a swift return to action in what has been a solid season for him so far.

“It’s so frustrating,” he said. “I don’t want to be working on Saturdays, I want to be playing football, that’s what I love doing.

“Last season you had Charlie Clough and my brother Nathan in the team, and if they were suspended they would get straight back in after they’d been out.

“They’ve been around this level for so many years, but where I’ve come from I can’t assume I will get my place back.

“I’ve got to work hard to get back in the side.”

On the challenge that saw him receive his marching orders at Weston – Dorchester’s third player to see red that day – he added: “In my head I was going to win the ball.

“I dived in and caught the lad and I knew I was going to be sent off. As a centre-half, in your head you are going in to win the ball.

“As soon as your mind tells you you’re going to do it you can’t change it.

“I didn’t mean to do what I did. I went in for the ball and got there a bit later than the other lad.

“I think it was to do with frustration and, looking back now, I shouldn’t have done it.

“I should have stood my ground, like I’ve been told to – I deserved the red card.”

The Magpies have it all to do to preserve their status as a Skrill South club.

But Walker reckons the county town outfit still have it within them to fend off the threat of relegation.

He continued: “I believe it. I think we can avoid the drop.

“At the start of the season there were a lot of players coming and going, but now we’ve got the players to do the job.

“Everyone at the club has been battling hard this season and we’ve been playing well but just not getting the results.”

Commenting on his own form, he said: “I’ve done well so far this season and the manager has told me I’ve been doing well.

“I’m grateful to Phil (Simkin) for giving me the chance. He could have got another centre-half in but told me I could progress and be a good player.”