Whitehouse and Scott bolster Buxton ranks

Midfielder Kristian Scott has returned to the club and came off the bench in Saturday's 4-0 win at Stalybridge Celtic, while former Leeds United and Doncaster Rovers man Billy Whitehouse has joined on loan from TNS until January 31.

There is further good news for the Bucks as Reece Styche has returned to the fold after appearing for Gibraltar in their 1-0 Nations League victory over Liechtenstein on Saturday.

"The squad's looking strong again. We've got Reece Styche back from international duty, we've signed Kris Scott who played last year," Hayward said.

"He was unlucky last year, he got injuries, but Kris is a very good player.

"Billy Whitehouse has come in from TNS. He's a winger who gives us options.

"We're starting to look strong again. Matt Kilgallon's finished his three-match suspension and Josh Granite’s playing trough the pain barrier, but we're looking strong."

The one negative for Buxton is defender Shane Killock, who pulled his calf during Saturday's 4-0 win at Stalybridge and missed Tuesday’s 4-1 win over Scarborough Athletic .

Buxton look set to have a blank weekend this Saturday following their FA Cup exit against Stafford Rangers on penalties.

They will return to action next Tuesday as Mickleover Sports visit the Tarmac Silverlands Stadium (KO 7.45pm).

"The next five games, again, we'll try to get more points an just keep going,” Hayward added.

"We'll keep chipping away, we want to be chipping away and try to get top spot as quickly as possible because with this coronavirus you don't know what's going to happen.

"If you're in the top two places and the season does stop you could get promoted.

"We want to be going up the leagues."

Mickleover sit 11th in the Northern Premier League table.

They lost on 4-3 penalties at National League South highfliers St Albans in the FA Cup’s third qualifying round on Tuesday evening following a 1-1 draw and travel Ashton United in the league on Saturday.