The 28-year-old striker faces the Gulls at Nene Park on Sunday for the first time since his £17,500 summer switch from Devon.

Phillips – who scored 12 league goals last season as Torquay reached the play-offs and the FA Carlsberg Trophy final – has not hit the target for Diamonds since his home debut against Ebbsfleet United in the opening week of the campaign.

He said: "I'm really looking forward to it."I've got a lot of friends down there – especially the manager (Paul Buckle) – and it will be good to see everyone again.

"I'm back in the Diamonds team so, hopefully, I can stay in the starting line-up.

"So far it has been a little bit frustrating. Although I've only scored one goal, performance-wise I feel I've been playing well and I know Garry Hill is delighted.

"Unfortunately I've had a few injuries with 16 stitches in my head over the last month.

"So I had to come out of the side and Daryl Clare is back with Leon Knight.

"We've scored seven goals in two away games. Since then I've been
waiting for my chance and being professional about it in training.
"I came in for the midweek game against Grays Athletic and should have scored in the first minute. I had other chances but I wasn't too disappointed.

"We've got a lot of new players and it does take a while for the team to gel.

"But we won three on the bounce and then we showed on Tuesday that we can pop the ball around."

What do you think of Diamonds' promotion chances. Post your comment here or email the sports desk