JODY Bevan's return to the fold has come at a perfect time as Cirencester Town reach a make-or-break point in their season.

Talismanic striker Bevan will return for the trip to Bedford Town tomorrow after a lively performance in Cirencester's County Cup penalty shootout defeat to Bristol City ten days ago.

Laid low by a serious knee injury for the majority of the season, the former Gloucester City and Cinderford Town target man's return has come as a timely boost for Centurions boss Brian Hughes.

With Cirencester in desperate need of an upturn in form if they are to avoid relegation from the Evo-Stik league Southern Premier Division, Hughes knows that victories, and immediate ones at that, are crucial.

With his squad ready and recharged after their mid-season, weather-enforced, sabbatical Hughes has laid down the law in the simplest terms as to what is needed from here on in.

"It's been difficult for players in the last three weeks as they are training and there are no games at the end of it and it gets a little boring and frustrating," he said.

"We've had the Bristol City game in that time and that game was almost the story of our season, where we played well and didn't get the rub of the green with the result.

"There were some really good performances that night, as there have been in the last few league games as well.

"But now we're going into the run-in and we know we are close to getting the results and performances together.

"However, on the flip side, if it doesn't happen in the next five or six games then we could be in a spot of bother."

Bevan got through an hour in the Bristol City cup clash, proving to Hughes that he can have a telling impact in the Centurions fight against the drop.

But Hughes must weigh up the pros and cons of rushing his experienced striker back into action at the risk of aggravating any long-standing injury.

"We needed an hour out of Jody against Bristol City to see where he was fitness wise," Hughes said.

"If you were to ask Jody if he was fit and ready he would always say yes and he showed us at Bristol City that he's very close.

"Even if he's not fully fit, he gives us a lot at the front of the team and he will certainly be involved all the time from now on in, he proved that he can have an impact."