AFC Telford's Sinton right behind Dan Preston

Boss Andy Sinton has backed young defender Dan Preston to hit top form again for AFC Telford United – after returning from compassionate leave.

The 20-year-old took a short break from the club, missing Tuesday's 2-1 defeat at Forest Green Rovers as a result, because of a private family issue.

But, with stand-in Stuart Whitehead suffering an ankle injury in that game, former Birmingham centre-back Preston was expected to be back in the starting line-up to face Gateshead this afternoon.

"People might have been saying a few things when they saw Dan was not on the team sheet on Tuesday and they might have assumed he'd been left out," said Sinton.

"But you have to be inside the club to know what is really going on – and Dan had actually asked for three or four days' compassionate leave because of a family matter.

"As a manager I could have been awkward, but you have to look at the bigger picture.

"He was back in training on Thursday and he looked brighter and sharper – back to the player he was three or four weeks ago."

By CHRIS HUDSON