Scott Allison will be ready to resume when Workington Reds host Hednesford in the Evo-Stik Premier Division.

Allison had to retire 15 minutes from the end in last week’s 2-1 FA Trophy win at Stalybridge Celtic because he wasn’t feeling well.

The Reds sharp-shooter – top-scorer last season – had netted both the goals which put his side in front at Bower Fold and was looking for his hat-trick. But he complained of feeling sick and was replaced by Sam Joel.

Allison is closing in on 100 goals for the Reds and Saturday’s brace took him to 92, with his season’s haul up to seven - now one ahead of Jason Walker who had started the season in fine finishing form.

It’s a particularly good effort by former Penrith forward Allison as he was one of three players who underwent a hernia operation during the summer.

He has taken time to find his touch and his form after the operation, not helped by playing in a side generally lacking in confidence, but that appears to be behind him now.

He’s also taken the role of penalty-taker again, scoring in the last two matches from the penalty spot, after Walker had missed spot-kicks in two successive games. Allison used to be Reds’ regular penalty-taker and, indeed, has the distinction of scoring an FA Cup hat-trick from the spot against Colwyn Bay.

With Allison fit to resume against Hednesford today (3pm kick-off), joint bosses Dave Hewson and Lee Andrews may be tempted into retaining an unchanged side after their FA Trophy win.

But they will have Kyle May and Jamie Mellen back in the squad after they were unavailable against Stalybridge.

Hednesford, who beat Reds 2-0 earlier in the season, go into the game without a manager following the midweek departure of Rob Smith and Larry Chambers to Halesowen Town. Experienced coach Francino Francis will be in charge of the Pitmen.

It has been confirmed that Reds will play an extra game over the holiday period – travelling to South Shields on December 29 for a re-arranged league game.

Ex-Reds trio Jonny Murray, Niall Renwick and Lamin Chan, meanwhile, are set to link-up with Penrith AFC, ahead their Northern League trip to Ryhope CW today (3pm kick-off).

The Bonny Blues come into the game on the back of a hard-earned goalless home draw against Sunderland RCA last Saturday.

“Jonny Murray would like to return,” said boss Andy Coyles. “Lamin Chan at Castletown, who has been here before, would like to come down, and Niall Renwick, who has been here before, he is interested.

"We are just looking to recruit some local talent that is good enough to compete at this level.”