Somerset Trojans striker Stephen Astwood has been cleared to resume playing after serving a five-match suspension.

Astwood, who transferred from Trojans' perennial arch-rivals PHC Zebras at the end of last season, is now eligible to suit up for his new club when they take on First Division outfit, and coach Dennis Brown's former club, Wolves in a FA Cup second round clash at White Hill Field on Sunday.

Astwood, said Brown, is a player any coach would love to have in his team.

“Stephen (Astwood) is coming back at the right time,” smiled a very upbeat Brown yesterday. “He is a proven goal scorer and we certainly missed his enthusiasm as well. His addition to the team - that I feel has improved over the last three games - will certainly be welcomed.”

Astwood's October 3 debut for Trojans proved anything but memorable as the former Zebra was sent off after only 14 minutes following a brief on-field skirmish with Somerset Eagles' full-back Kirk Simons.

After serving out an automatic one-game suspension, both players were summoned to appear before a Bermuda Football Association (BFA) disciplinary committee.

Simons failed to turn up and was handed down an additional one-match ban while Astwood did show up but was given a further five-game suspension after the player's heated temperament got the better of him during the BFA disciplinary hearing.

Only this past summer, Astwood featured in Bermuda's World Cup qualifying campaign before heading to the UK over the summer months for trials at Grimsby Town.

Prior to his move further West, Astwood had come all the way up through Zebras junior ranks, quickly establishing himself as one of the Island's top striker's in the late 1990s.

In the past, the towering striker has undergone trials at Scottish Premier club Livingston and also with English clubs Portsmouth, Preston North End, Peterborough and a one-off shot at Tottenham Hotspur but failed to land a contract.

Astwood netted a brace for Trojans in a 2-0 league win over Southampton Rangers at Somerset Cricket Club on October 17 during his last outing prior to serving additional time on the sidelines.

Trojans' new acquisition is now expected to rejoin his team mates for Sunday's FA Cup clash against Wolves as the perennial FA Cup giants seek to advance to the last eight in the competition for the third year in succession.

Astwood will link up alongside Rohaan Simons - fresh off last week's hat-trick performance against Devonshire Cougars - and veteran campaigner Dwight Basden in attack.

Trojans other forward, Clevon Hill, is still out nursing a foot injury sustained representing Bermuda last month in the Digicel Cup Tournament in St.Vincent.

Trojans hit top stride in their last league outing, thrashing high-flying Cougars 5-1 under the lights at Somerset Cricket Club just over a week ago.

“I have seen a marked improvement in our work rate and concentration levels,” noted Trojans coach Brown, following last week's upset win over the big cats.

“The problem that we encountered early in the season was not that were just losing, but how we were losing.

“We were losing because our concentration levels were not up to par and we tended to give in to the opposition. The concentration level in the First Division is not as high as the Premier Division and so their concentration level has to be a lot better.

“We have a very talented team but they must realise that it takes more than talent. It takes desire, guts and determination to compete and get the job done.”

Trojans, meanwhile, have reached the FA Cup semi-finals two years in a row and remain tied with PHC for the most wins (nine) in the prestigious competition's 48 year history.

Incidentally, it was Brown who captained Trojans to their last FA Cup triumph in 1989-90.