LEON GORDON admits it was great to be back involved with the Concord first team on Saturday after five months out with an ankle problem.

The versatile right-sided player, 30, picked up a ligament injury in this season’s 3-0 opening day win over Bath and has been working his way back to full fitness since.

He resumed full training last month and returned to the squad on the bench for Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Vanarama South leaders Boreham Wood.

The ex-Canvey favourite now hopes to be involved again when the Beachboys go to promotion-hopefuls Whitehawk on Tuesday evening.

But the midfielder – who famously scored Concord’s winner in the 2013 play-off final at Lowestoft – admits he is still working his way back to be ready for the rigors of the non-league’s second tier.

Gordon told the club’s website: “It’s been hard work to get fit again after such a long time out. I used to just spring back from injury when I was younger but it takes a bit longer now.

“And we are doing so well at the moment that it is going to be tough to get back into the team. But that is my aim.

“It might be a case of me going out on loan to build up my full match fitness, and perhaps to a Ryman Premier club, but we’ll see.

“I hope to be involved for Whitehawk but I don’t know if I will be yet.

“My main goal is just to get up and running this season so I am fully ready for next season.

“I’m just glad to be back involved really and there is no chance of me hanging up my boots just yet.”

Fifth-placed Hawks are eight points and five places above Concord but have played two more games.

Two goals from Steve Cawley and one from Sam Collins gave the Beachboys a 3-0 win in last month’s reverse fixture and a win this week would keep Rangers in the hunt for a play-off place.