Crowd favourite Brad Hubbold is back with Workington Reds after the club reached an agreement over his release with Lancaster City.
The Barrow-based mid-fielder had been a regular at City in NPL Premier until last month when he suffered an injury setback.
Hubbold first joined Reds five years ago and really started to make an impact in Danny Grainger’s first spell at the club and has flourished in a busy, creative role.
After a season under Chris Willcock he decided to accept an offer to move up a League and he joined Lancaster along with Brad Carroll and Nico Evengelinos.
Grainger said of Hubbold’s return: “It’s no secret how highly I rate Brad and I was gutted to see him leave in the summer but understand his reasoning for it.
“For whatever reason it hasn’t worked out for him at Lancaster and now I’m delighted to welcome him back.
“I believe he will come into the squad and add more quality to an already very strong group as we look to keep on improving. Brad is a huge talent and I look forward to seeing him back in a Reds shirt very soon.”
Hubbold said: “I am really looking forward to getting back out on Borough Park and hopefully can have a positive impact and help continue what has already been a good start to the season made by the lads.”
City boss Mark Fell said: “Brad is an excellent player but he’s competing in a very strong midfield and it’s an area that we are oversubscribed, There was an approach for him at the week-end and he’s had an offer he can’t refuse.
“While we can’t guarantee anyone a place in our starting 11 we’ve agreed to release his registration so he can get back onto the pitch regularly in the League below.”
Hubbold won’t be involved in tonight’s Fred Conway County Cup-tie at Windscale but Reds will include a trialist who has been training with them for a few weeks.
Second choice keeper Danny Eccles will play but the bulk of the team will be made up of Development side players from the County League.