JAKE Speight is convinced he still has a vital part to play for Mansfield Town this season.

The Stags striker has been out since the 2-0 defeat to Gateshead in early February with a knee injury that required surgery.

But the former Sheffield United player is now firmly on the comeback trail and hopes to be available against Tamworth on Saturday.

Mansfield have 11 games left to force their way into the Blue Square Premier play-offs.

And Speight, who has ten goals this season, believes he can play a pivotal role.

He said: "It's not going to be easy to get back in the team because the strikers have done well in my absence.

"Jon Shaw has three in four, I know Duffers (Rob Duffy) was delighted to score his 15th of the season against Salisbury and Pezza (Kyle Perry) came on to get his first for a while at the weekend.

"I am pleased for all of them, but I feel I can bring something to the side that the others don't.

"We have still got the Chester thing hanging over us, but the lads have done really well to stay positive and we see no reason why we still can't reach the play-offs."

Mansfield boss David Holdsworth was left fuming after a fan threw a season ticket at him at half-time.

Speight is baffled by such a reaction as the Stags were leading 2-1 and went on to post a 4-2 success.

He said: "You can't please everyone. There is always someone who is not happy.

"But, as I have said before, the fans in general have been brilliant this season, and people can see there aren't many games when we haven't done ourselves justice."