WHILE the injury situation is not the best at Chester, boss Calum McIntyre has stressed there’s still a long way to go in the National League North season.

The Blues, who ended a three-match losing sequence with a 1-1 draw at Alfreton in midweek, are back on their travels tomorrow with a match against third-placed South Shields.

The current injury situation includes a number of key figures being out for Chester, most notably Tom Peers (broken foot) and Adam Thomas (broken arm).

They are joined on the sidelines by Kieran Coates, while Kole Hole requires surgery.

However, McIntyre told Chester FC TV: “The positive I take is how competitive we’ve been at our best, or near our best.

“But, do you know what, maybe not at our best in terms of selection of players.

“You look at how competitive we can be with the top sides in the league. I’m really sorry we’re not in the conversation for the top-one, we’re not.

“That isn’t real. It wasn’t real in August and it’s certainly not real now.

“You need more than a fair wind and to do things that perhaps we can’t do.”

With a third of their league season now completed, Chester find themselves in 17th spot in National League North.

The Blues have games in hand over everyone else in the league, though, and they are just five points adrift of the play-off positions.

“My aim’s get us in them play-off positions and I’m looking at where we’re at,” added McIntyre.

“If you look at the league table after 16 games, you’re a sausage. It’s that straight-forward.

“Don’t get wrapped up in that stuff, just keep trying to hit our points targets.

“We need three points in the next two games to have hit our points target over the last six games.”

Leaders Tamworth play host to King’s Lynn Town and second-placed Scunthorpe welcome Warrington.

Other fixtures: Alfreton v Brackley; Banbury v Curzon Ashton; Blyth v Peterborough Sports; Boston v Chorley; Buxton v Southport; Darlington v Rushall; Farsley Celtic v Hereford; Gloucester v Spennymoor; Scarborough v Bishop’s Stortford.

National League North leaders Chesterfield will look to make home comforts count as they take on Eastleigh.

Second-placed Barnet, beaten 4-1 at home by Oldham in a midweek encounter, go to Wealdstone.

Other fixtures: AFC Fylde v Dorking; Aldershot v FC Halifax; Altrincham v Solihull Moors; Boreham Wood v Woking; Dagenham & Redbridge v Rochdale; Gateshead v Southend; Hartlepool v Bromley; Maidenhead v York; Oldham v Ebbsfleet; Oxford City v Kidderminster.