RETURNING Stanley midfielder Andy Proctor is aiming to make up for lost time and fire the Reds up the table.

The 31-year-old signed a two-year deal at the Store First Stadium on deadline day, after leaving Bury by mutual consent.

Having made more than 400 appearances for Stanley during a 10-year spell at the club before leaving for Preston in 2012, Proctor was delighted to pull on the shirt again in Saturday’s 3-2 win over Tranmere.

He played 76 minutes in that thrilling first victory of the season for James Beattie’s men, and has now set his sights on continuing to build up his match fitness.

“I just need to get some more games under my belt and get my match fitness where I want it to be,” he said, “and I would like to think I would be a big asset to the club.”

Proctor captained Stanley in his first spell at the club under John Coleman, but after leaving he has had short spells with Preston and Bury.

He made over 30 league appearances for both clubs but after joining Preston in January 2012, he had his contract cancelled by mutual consent at Deepdale 18 months later and joined the Shakers a week after that.

He spent one season at Gigg Lane but was placed on the transfer list at the start of the summer, and was then allowed to leave to rejoin Stanley on September 1.

The Blackburn-born England C international had to adapt from having one manager during his decade at Stanley to going through several bosses once he left the club.

“It has been tricky,” he said.

“I went from one manager in nine years who knew me inside out to having five managers in two-and-a-half seasons.

“I was a captain at both Preston North End and Bury but managerial changes meant differing opinions, football would be boring if every manager liked the same players.

“But it has made me mentally strong and I have the belief in my own ability.”

Things may not have worked as he had planned after departing Stanley in 2012, but now he has back Proctor is determined to prove his quality, and move the Reds clear of the League Two relegation zone.

“I believe I am a good player at this level and it’s up to me to prove it and get us up the table,” he added.