Non-league weekend preview: Injury-stricken Stocksbridge Park Steels to welcome back key duo; Sheffield face Cleethorpes test

“I'll take that considering the run we'd been on and with all the injuries and illnesses,” said Hilton.

"It's been a difficult Christmas period for us but hopefully we’ve turned the corner now.

"Loughborough will not be easy but we should have Luke Mangham and Reece Fielding back which will be a huge boost for us.

"We need to get people back on the pitch and picking up points again if we want to be in the play-offs."

Hilton thought the 1-1 draw at Sheffield was a fair result.

He added: “They had the better of the first half, they were on top with the main threat coming from corner and set-pieces.

"We changed our shape in the second half, got the ball down and were the better side, but I don’t think we did enough to win the game.

"A point each was about right.”

Loughborough have one of the worse away records in the division with one win and one draw from 10 games on the road.

Sheffield FC face what looks to be a tough trip to third-placed Cleethorpes Town, who are unbeaten in the league at home.

Club will be chasing a first league win in eight as they look to narrow the five point gap on the play-off places.

“It's a big game for us on Saturday,” admitted Sheffield boss Gavin Smith.

“We need to make sure we’re all on fire if we are to come away with something from the game”

Sheffield will be aiming to complete a league double over the hosts following an impressive 3-1 victory at Dronfield in September.

Hallam have a trip to lowly Ollerton Town in the Toolstation NCEL ass they look to keep in touch with the Division One promotion chasing pack.

The Countrymen came from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 with Worsbrough Bridge Athletic in their last outing, where they were unfortunate not to come away with all three points. Hallam are 11th in the table but have a fine recent away record which has seen four victories in the last five.

Handsworth are without a fixture this weekend.