Former Workington Reds skipper Dan Wordsworth has made a surprise return to Borough Park.

Wordsworth has signed back on the dotted line for Reds after a spell in Australian football.

He only returned to the country earlier this week and Workington moved quickly to secure their former central defender.

Joint manager Dave Hewson was delighted to welcome Wordsworth back.

“We are thrilled to have him back as he is such a big character and a leader, on and off the field,” said Hewson.

“His return will be a big boost for the lads and he is proven quality at this level.”

The defender’s registration has been forwarded to the league but he will not feature until international clearance comes through.

Wordsworth is a very familiar face to the Borough Park terraces, having made his Workington debut during the 2011/12 campaign.

Over the next four seasons, he appeared in over 100 games at the heart of the Reds’ defence.

He captained the side on 40 occasions when they finished as league runners-up to FC United of Manchester in 2014-15.

After starting his career with Carlisle United, he spent a brief spell with Kendal Town before making his Reds’ bow in the summer of 2011.

His spell down under was spent with Queensland club, Caboolture Sports.

Reds head to Coalville Town this weekend hoping to break back into the play-offs.

Their 3-1 victory over Stourbridge last Saturday bumped them up to fifth but other results in midweek saw them drop down to sixth.

But Hewson is confident that his team have what it takes.

He said: “We say every week there is praise for what we have done but then it’s done. We don’t get carried away and we move on to the next game.

“We are taking it one at a time and as long as we keep winning that’s all we can do.

“We have to keep positive and keep churning out results, getting the three points and keeping ourselves in the mix.”

Reds will travel down today and stay overnight before tomorrow’s all important game.

They will still be without the suspended James Earl and injured Anthony Wright but Rob Wilson should return.