Cheltenham Town FC

However Asa Hall's debut as a second half substitute was slightly different from the rest.

Unlike his team mates, who have all signed this summer, Asa has actually been at the club for over a year.

Following a year out the game with an Achilles injury, Hall was thrilled to get back out there, " It was nice to get on the pitch and actually make my home debut after a year. It was a good feeling and just to be involved and fit enough after being on the bench was great.

It's been so frustrating, it's been such a long year. I've had good family around me and good staff here so it's been a long time coming but it was great to finally be back out there."

Hall, the former Luton and Oxford midfielder, is happy at how this new Robins' squad is shaping up, and knows he's got a fight on his hands to get in the team " I think the new players look really good, we've had some great results and I've sat their thinking, how am I going to be able to get back in this team?

So hopefully when I do get on the pitch I can do enough to stay in the team. It's all been good, the lads look fit and strong and we just need those wins now."

Following two sub appearances and two draws, Asa is hoping for that first win sooner rather than later, " Ideally of course we wanted two wins but the performances have been good and the mood is still great around the lads so I think it's only going to be a matter of time.

We've been creating a lot of chances, it's not like we're drawing games without having a shot so I think both games we could have won. We just need to stay positive and keep going."

After being out for so long, the midfielder made his first appearance in Saturday's draw and Lincoln and enjoyed the experience, " It was very surreal, I looked at the clock after 5 minutes and thought i'd already lasted longer the whole season last year. It was a nice feeling and it's been a long time coming."

 

With another home game coming up this Saturday against Southport, Hall knows the importance of the crowd and was impressed with the support on Tuesday night, " That's the loudest I've heard it at home, I sat in the stands all of last season so it nice to be on the bench and feel the fans with us and it was good. It was loud and everyone here has actually commented on that."

Asa knows that his hard work has got him back to this position, but knows things could have been different, " I did think that it had forced me out of the game so to get this second chance has been great and my Achilles feels better than it ever has. I spent a long time last year in the gym on that rowing machine and it's really helped now.

I came in a week earlier than the other lads this year for pre-season and it's all helped."

See Asa and the rest of the squad take on Southport this Saturday at 3pm at the World of Smile Stadium.