MIDFIELD worker Jon Worthington goes into the New Year with a personal ambition to achieve.

The 20-year-old has made a remarkable return from hernia surgery by playing all bar 10 minutes of the holiday victories against Darlington and Bury.

Now, he hopes to keep his place in Peter Jackson's starting line-up and reward the manager with some goals in a renewed promotion push.

"I can't quite believe I've come back from my injury and operation so quickly, but I'm delighted," said Worthington.

"When I had the same operation before, it took quite a while to get back, not just a couple of weeks.

"Whether my knowledge of this type of injury and the limits you have to impose on yourself has paid off, I don't know, but it's great to be feeling so good. I think the Darlington game probably came a little bit too early for me and 80 minutes was a lot more than I was expecting to play - but it was a case of needs must with Danny Schofield's injury so early in the game.

"I thought I might have to be subbed myself later on, but thankfully I got through.

"And then against Bury I was really, really tired and heavy legged in the second half but managed to keep going."

Worthington was credited with Town's goal on Sunday by the stadium announcer before it became clear it was an own goal by Danny Swailes.

He is keen to claim more, however, than his solitary strike so far in the 1-1 draw at Rochdale back in September.

"I obviously want to stay fit and play well enough to keep my place in the first team, but I would also like to get more goals," he said.

"If I keep getting forward in matches and keep getting in the box, I'm sure the goals will come."

So can Town earn the extra points in the second half of the season which could catapult them towards promotion?

"Our away form has to improve, that's for sure," he answered.

"It isn't just a case of winning, which is obviously great to do on our travels, but of scratching out points in difficult matches and when we aren't always playing that well.

"Those few extra points can make all the difference at the end of the season."