MICHAEL Branch is 'trying his socks off ' as he fights to win back a place in Chester City's squad.

The former Everton striker was frozen out of the team in March following a bust-up with manager Mark Wright.

But he patched up his differences with Wright last month and was allowed to begin pre-season training, albeit several weeks after most of his team-mates.

Wright yesterday warned the 27-year-old it will not be easy to break his way into the squad once he reaches full match fitness.

The Chester boss said: 'There are certainly levels at the football club that you need to hit and standards you need to keep.

'Looking at the people who are in front of him, there's Gregg Blundell working his socks off to get in the side.

'There's Drewe Broughton and Jon Walters who have got the starting places at the moment and are doing well, and there's Chris Holroyd, who does not look out of place one bit with our strikers.

'But Michael has come back with a real good attitude and he's trying his socks off.'

Wright also had words of praise for Dean Bennett, who is keeping on-loan Doncaster Rovers star Ricky Ravenhill out of the side.

'His running and willingness to get forward has been incredible,' said Wright. 'He's wasted two years playing at Wrexham as a wing-back. That's two years where he's maybe gone backwards a bit.

'We knew him as an attack-minded midfielder and he's proved his worth. I'm really pleased with him.'