CLUB captain Stewart Yetton admitted it had been “mentally tough” to be left out of the Terras’ team but remains determined to be a big part of Weymouth’s push for promotion.
The popular striker was recalled to Jason Matthews’ starting XI for the first time since early January in the big Dorset derby clash against Poole Town earlier this month, in place of the injured Chris Shephard.
And while Yetton will have to wait to see if he has retained his starting role following that contest, he insists he will be doing all he can to help the club strive for success either way.
Because of Saturday’s postponement at Hungerford the former Truro City man got the chance to watch his beloved Plymouth Argyle in action at the weekend.
And, while he enjoyed seeing the Pilgrims cruise to a comfortable victory over Mansfield on Saturday, he is looking forward to getting back on the field himself.
Speaking about his absence from the Weymouth starting line-up, Yetton told Echosport: “It’s not very nice to not be playing but, obviously, if I had been scoring more or playing a bit better, I would have kept my place.
“So it’s probably rightly so. If it’s not happening and we are stuttering, the gaffer is going to make changes and I can’t blame him for that. That’s what you do as a manager.
“There’s a good eight or nine lads who aren’t sure if they are going to be in the team each week. That only means more competition.”
He added: “It’s a shame we haven’t had a game since (against Poole), we are all chomping at the bit.
“We have had a couple of good training sessions, there is a lot of competition in the squad now, which I think will stand us in good stead.”
In an interview with Echosport a month ago, Yetton admitted: “I know I could probably do with losing a bit of weight to recapture some of my sharpness.
“I’ve been doing a lot of running away from training but I could drop a few more pounds.”
Since then, the striker has been putting in the hard yards even more than normal in a bid to recapture his trademark razor sharp scoring touch.
“I have had to go away and do a lot more work away from the club,” he added.
“I am long in the tooth now, I am not like a young 20-year-old where if I’m not in the team I am sulking, If I am not playing I am going to do something about it.
“I have got my weight down a lot and I am physically stronger as well.
“I have lost weight but I have also been in the gym a little bit just to get a little bit fitter and sharper. I am feeling good, I feel like I have been looking sharp in training and hopefully I am back in the gaffer’s thoughts.”
He added: “I started the last game and hopefully I have turned that corner now.
“It is difficult when you are out of the team mentally. It is tough, it’s just trying to do the right things to get back in.
“I pride myself on wanting to play, pride myself on wanting to win and it means a lot to me.
“I care deeply about the club, I care deeply about the fans and I want to be successful and go up.
“The gaffer has some tough decisions.
“I’d like to think I’ve maintained my place but if I don’t, he has got my support and I am not going to be moping around, I am going to be supporting the lads who are playing and he knows I will be ready if I’m called on.”
