JAMES Coutts has expressed his frustration at being forced to play the waiting game in his bid to overcome a nagging ankle injury.

The Dorchester Town midfielder has been sidelined for more than six weeks after limping out of a 2-0 defeat at Chelmsford City on September 4.

Despite being named among the substitutes in Saturday’s win at Lewes, Coutts is still a long way from feeling 100 per cent.

The 23-year-old, who has also been experiencing problems with his knee and Achilles, said: “I’m getting there, albeit very slowly. I’m just trying to make sure I do the right things and complete all the exercises I get given.

“I would like to think I can be fit again in a couple of weeks but I don’t want to put a time-frame on it because it’ll be frustrating if I don’t make it.

“It’s taking a lot longer than I hoped and I don’t think we knew how severe the injury was when it first happened.”

Coutts added: “It’s been massively frustrating. Just when I feel like it’s getting better I suffer a setback.

“I can wake up one day and it feels fine but then go to do something and it feels as weak as anything.

“I felt I was getting close to coming back at the end of last month but then broke down. I tried to step things up but ended up straining my Achilles slightly, so perhaps I over did it.”

After seeing five players – Ryan Hill, Stuart Douglas, Dave Allen, Harry Montacute and Saul Otobo – leave the club in the last fortnight, Coutts is eager to regain full fitness and boost the Magpies’ depleted ranks.

He said: “The squad is quite thin now and I want to come back and help.

“I sat on the bench at Lewes and I’m not very good at watching games as I get so animated on the sidelines – so much so that Ashley Vickers had to calm me down.

“I’ve just got to be patient and hopefully everything will be okay.”

Coutts is expected to be confined to the dugout once again when the Magpies host Blue Square Bet South leaders Braintree Town on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the winding-up petition that was issued against the club by HM Reve-nue & Customs last June is due to be thrown out in court today.

Dorchester have cleared the £26,000 debt, as revealed last week by chairman Shaun Hearn, and vice-chairman David Martin said: “The process for today is that the solicitor for HMRC will inform the judge that the money has been paid and ask to withdraw the petition.

“So long as no other creditor attends court the judge should issue a validation order and the case be closed. Neither HMRC or ourselves are aware of any other creditor.”

* James Coutts will be running a soccer school at the Avenue Stadium during October half-term.

The course runs from Monday to Thursday (10.30am-3.30pm) and is aimed at six to 14-year-olds.

It costs £40 for the week or £35 for Dorchester Town Youth FC members.

There will also be Mini Magpies sessions on Tuesday and Thursday morning (9-10am) for three to five-year-olds, costing £4 for each hour.

Contact 01305 262451 for more information or to book a place.