Epsom & Ewell boss Glyn Mandeville is under no illusions of the tough task that lies ahead if the Salts are to be crowned champions – but he has been given renewed hope.

Following last weekend’s 1-0 over Chessington & Hook, the Salts sit third in the Premier Division of the Combined Counties, seven points off leaders Hartley Wintney.

The Salts, who go to Knaphill on Saturday, are also three points off Ashford Town in second, but with two games in hand.

Hartley Wintney, who host the Salts on Tuesday in a top of the table six-pointer, had been unstoppable so far this season winning 12 out of 12 – but a mid-week draw at Bedfont Sports has given Mandeville something to hold on to.

He said: “We still have a couple of games in hand, so if we were to win those we would be second.

“But Hartley are a very good side, although they had their first draw on Wednesday night which is encouraging to see.

“Knaphill will be a tough challenge, we have been there before and had a great result last year.

“If the lads stay away from injury and play as well as they can do, then we should get the result we want.

“And having that carrot of the Hartley draw, it gives us a chance to claw back a couple of points on them going into Tuesday’s game.”

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Mandeville is still without the injured Kyle Hough for the Knaphill trip after the striker dislocated his knee cap in the win at Ashford Town at the end of October.

However, he is hopeful of a return for the Hartley clash and remains confident he has the players who can step into Hough’s big boots – starting with Thomas Neale, who scored the winner over Chessington.

Mandeville said: “Neale’s a good prospect and hopefully he can carry on in the way he has gone about things in training, and when he comes on the pitch he has been working hard as well.

“He came from Worcester Park where things were not working out for him, and he turned up at training asking if he could have a session and I did not have a problem with getting him signed on.

“But we also have Rob Hendry and Daryl Cooper-Smith who can slip into the attack.”

He added: “Kyle has dislocated his knee cap five times now, and it has popped straight back in.

“At the moment it is just sore, and he’s hoping to be back for the Hartley game.”