Wing man Nick is ready to fly

WINGER Nick Hegarty is ready to play his part in Grimsby Town's survival push – starting at his happy hunting ground of Morecambe tomorrow.

The 23-year-old Yorkshireman has had an injury-ravaged campaign but has come off the bench in the last two matches to take his season's tally to nine appearances.

With loan star Jamie Devitt a doubt for the trip to the west coast, Hegarty could be set for a first start in four-and-a-half months.

And, after scoring in a 4-0 league triumph, and helping the Mariners surpass the Shrimps in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy two years ago this month, Hegarty has happy memories of Christie Park.

The midfielder said: "I like Morecambe.

"I have some good memories there, won a few and scored there so, hopefully, that will continue.

"Jamie's (Devitt) done really well since his arrival so if he's fit, I would expect he'll be playing.

"Obviously I'm ready to come in if needed.

"I've had to bide my time to get any kind of action on the pitch.

"I had 15 minutes last weekend and then more in midweek.

"I'm just looking to play as much as I can until the end of the season and try to play a major part in keeping the Mariners up.

"I'd been out quite a lot at the start of the season already before the latest four-month absence.

"It's been a really horrible season for me.

"You try and get fit and it flares up again – it's been an ongoing thing.

"Hopefully, it looks like I've seen the back of it now.

"I'm really happy with that and to be back training and I want to turn that into playing time now.

"I've been fine for a while now and have played a few reserve games so I'm available."

If he figures, Hegarty is hoping to do his bit going forward after his first assist at Crewe – albeit fortuitously from a mis-hit shot.

He supplied the final ball for 12 Town goals last season and wants to play as a big a part this time around.

He added: "I'll agree it wasn't a pass the other night but I won't turn down any assist.

"No-one will remember it was a scuffed shot in 10 years time.

"I tend to get a few assists and anything I can do to help us get goals in our situation I'll happily accept.

"If I can provide a few more like I did last year then I'll be happy.

"I think I played a part in keeping us up last year and I want to again.

"We need to tighten up from Crewe.

"From watching a lot of the games this season, the Crewe game was the first time in a long time we've looked quite open. A lot of that was down to the way Crewe played – you just have to look at a lot of their results at home and there are always goals.

"If we had maybe taken more chances we might have had a decent result but we can't put too much of downer on it with another game to focus on."

If he plays, Hegarty will come up against former team-mate Phil Jevons.

And as one of the few faces left at Blundell Park from the Liverpudlian's time in the black and white, he is fully aware of his threat.

Hegarty added: "He's a very talented footballer.

"I remember when I was coming through the Youth and Reserve teams and he played a lot of Reserve games with us.

"The quality he produced on a regular basis was there to see and he's still doing it. You always have to be wary of him.

"He's one of the quickest in the mind – his legs aren't necessarily as quick anymore.

"But he is always likely to score goals anywhere – he has that added bit of quality, as Grimsby fans will know, and is someone we'll have to watch tomorrow."