Chester FC skipper George Horan faces a fight for fitness for the trip to Aldershot Town on Saturday (3pm).

A long-standing ankle problem forced Horan off midway through the second half of the 3-2 loss at Macclesfield Town on Tuesday.

Manager Steve Burr revealed his captain – who turns 32 later this month – had been playing through the pain barrier.

“George has got some floating bone in his ankle and apparently he’s had it for some time,” said Burr.

Battle-hardened centre-back Horan lost his place under previous boss Neil Young but has started in each of Burr’s five games in charge.

He will be determined to shake off the knock and lead his hometown club out at the Recreation Ground this weekend.

Should he fail to recover then Ross Killock, who missed the loss to Macc through suspension, would be the obvious candidate to partner Paul Linwood, who filled in for Killock, against the Shots.

Veteran full-back Kevin McIntyre limped off in the 3-1 home loss to Welling United last Saturday and is unlikely to be fit enough to feature.

“Kevin is an experienced player and I think he’s done well for us but he’s done his groin,” said Burr.

Aldershot are one place above the Blues in the table but the Hampshire club started the season on minus 10 points for going into administration.

Andy Scott’s side visited the Swansway Chester Stadium on November 2 and salvaged a 1-1 draw with an injury time equaliser from Jaydon Gibbs. On-loan forward Conor Wilkinson had put the Blues ahead on 67 minutes in his first game since joining on loan from Bolton Wanderers.

Aldershot have not lost at home in the league since October and have found the back of the net 34 times in their 14 games at the Rec.

“I thought they were a good side when I went down there with Kiddy earlier in the season and they have got a lot of Football League experience,” said Burr.

“I know how tough it’s going to be and if you give them the 10 points back then they obviously wouldn’t be in the position they are in.”

Although the Blues have lost three in a row, Burr has been pleased with the amount of chances his side have created but stressed the need to convert them into goals.

“Some of the balls and set pieces John Rooney put in at Macc were as good as any I have seen but we have to get on the end of them and make them count,” he said.

“Gareth Seddon came back in and got himself a goal so hopefully he will get stronger and get a few more for us. “