Yeovil Town top-scorer Rhys Murphy is looking forward to returning to action at Huish Park when the Glovers take on Hampton & Richmond this weekend.
The frontman, who netted his 13th goal of the season from the penalty spot in the 2-2 draw at Dartford on Saturday, admitted a month of away games had taken its toll on the side.
They have picked up five points from their four National League South matches since the 4-2 win over Farnborough during their last outing on home soil in mid-November, and they now have three of their next five games at Huish Park over the Christmas period.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah on Thursday, Murphy said: “It’s been an intense few weeks with lots of travelling to away games, but we knew it was coming because earlier in the season we had played a lot at home.
“It is brilliant to be back in front of our fans and they will be out in their numbers like they have been all season and we can put on a show for them.
“As a player you want to be playing football, whatever day of the month it is, it all blurs in to one, you are playing football and that is the main thing.”
Murphy started last weekend’s draw at Dartford which saw Yeovil stretch their lead at the top of the table to seven points but he had not been in the starting XI since the 1-1 draw at Chippenham Town at the end of November.
He admitted that having the likes of Frank Nouble, Jake Hyde and more recently Alex Fisher, as well as forwards Jordan Young and on loan Sonny Cox (who has now returned to his parent club Exeter City) did spur him on to find form.
The top-scorer said: “You work hard all week on the training pitch all week and you want to play football. We have another good run of fixtures coming up now and it’s something to sink our teeth in to and hopefully we can come out with plenty of points and still top of the table.
“We have a really good group of players, so you know if you are not starting you know that you are fighting to get your shirt back. But, even if you are not starting you have to think about how you can effect a game without even coming on, so you always want to be ready and know that when your chance comes you have to take it.
“Good competition gets the best out of everyone because even when you are playing great you know you have to be at it to keep your shirt but (having good players in the squad) can also save your legs. It’s a long, hard season, so you have to look at the big picture.
“Some times you might get frustrated but that is because we all want to play. That is a good thing if you can channel that positively.”