OFFRANDE Zanzala is happy to hear his manager John Coleman singing his praises recently.

The striker returned to the matchday squad last Saturday in the 1-0 win away at Southend United after suffering from a hamstring injury.

Zanzala now wants to kick on and contribute for Accrington Stanley in League One this season.

"Jimmy Bell, John Doolan and all the players have always helped me, but to hear it from the manager himself is only going to help me kick on and prove to everyone that I am a good player," said Zanzala.

"Now I’m back I’ve just got to focus on doing the best I can.

"The gaffer himself has been magnificent since I’ve been here and I’m grateful for the chance he has given me and will give me.

"It takes some pressure off because the manager does know what I’m capable of because I’ve been here for a few seasons now.

"He trusts me and I trust him with his decisions like at Southend when I came on.

"It’s always good as a striker going into games and training knowing that the manager does like you, he’s invested in you and he wants the best for you.

"There’s nothing better than being at a club where the manager is all for you and wants you to do your best."

Dion Charles and Colby Bishop have been leading the line since Zanzala had been on the sidelines.

"It’s always good to have competition. Dion and Colby have been doing well, scoring a few goals between them," added the striker.

"They’ve played well and got the job done. From me, I’m looking thinking I’ve just got to work hard to get back in there and contribute for the team like they have while I’ve been injured.

"Credit to them, but I want to contribute with goals and performances for the team.

"They’ve played well and they’re doing well this season, but at the same time, we’ve played well, and we just haven’t picked up as many points as we wanted to.

"We’re not going into it fearing them, we’re focussed on ourselves and we’ve been preparing in training all week for how we’re going to beat them and overload in different areas.

"The main thing is the three points and that’s what everyone has got in their minds. Everyone needs to defend together and be compact."

Zanzala doesn't have it in his mind that he will injure his hamstring again and is prepared to go full throttle for Stanley.

"It was an acute hamstring grade two injury. I did it twice, the first time was the lower hamstring in training and then I did the upper hamstring against Tranmere," he said.

"It’s good to be back so I can’t complain. It’s makes you into the player that you are to come back stronger mentally and physically.

"I’ve had a few injuries before, I did my ACL at Derby and I was out for 10 months, that was the most challenging one.

"With being out for 10 months, I’ve been at the bottom with that one. This injury with my hamstring, I’ve juts looked at it and decided to work hard and come back better than ever.

"I’m looking forward to the game against Oxford, it’ll be a challenge for the team to test ourselves against good opposition.

"No one should write us off though because we’ve turned over some big teams.

"Hopefully, we can turn a corner and start climbing up the table."