CRAIG Lindfield is set to line up against Accrington Stanley for Macclesfield at the Moss Rose tomorrow, still wondering whether he could have been in Michael Symes’ position now had he not been a victim of the Reds’ financial crisis.

Lindfield played alongside Symes when both were on loan at Stanley at the end of last season and some regarded him as the greater strike threat at the time.

A permanent move to the Crown Ground looked all set to happen in the summer but instead the 21-year-old found out he required a hernia operation and by the time he had recovered and agreed his release from Liverpool it was too late.

Stanley’s cash problems led to a transfer embargo and Lindfield’s hopes of joining the club began to slip away.

Such was his desire to sign, he spent months watching Stanley from the stands as he waited for the embargo to be lifted.

Symes – signed on a one-year deal during Lindfield’s hernia lay-off – has since gone on to score 14 goals this season, leading to links with Championship clubs and the offer of an improved contract.

Meanwhile Lindfield, deciding he could not wait any longer, signed for Macclesfield on a month-to-month contract just before Christmas.

“It looked like a done deal to join Accrington but I needed to have the hernia operation,” said the striker, who did appear for Stanley in a friendly against Austin Aztex in October.

“I stayed at Liverpool to do the rehab but when I was fit again Accrington had the embargo.

“I waited for as long as I could because I wanted to sign for them, but there was no sign that the embargo would be lifted so I had to think about myself and get some games.

“It’s hard enough watching games from the stand when you’re not fit, it’s even harder when you are fit. When I was there watching them I always thought that I would be joining them.

“But I’m made up to see Michael doing so well because we’ve been good friends since we were both on loan at Bournemouth together.

“I think it was just down to confidence and getting a run of games, and it’s probably the same for me.

“John Coleman does give you so much confidence, he lets you go out there and express yourself.

“I suppose there is a part of me that thinks that could have been me, but it was just down to circumstances.

“And I’m sure they would have still signed Symesy anyway.”

Stanley’s embargo was finally lifted last week but a move for Lindfield is not imminent, with the Reds possessing a wealth of striking options at the moment.

Lindfield has scored once in four appearances since joining Macclesfield, but he knows tomorrow will be a rather strange experience.

“I don’t know how I’ll feel if I score,” he said.

“I probably wouldn’t celebrate because I’ve got a lot of respect for everyone there but I’d still really like to score a goal, just to remind them who I am!

“I still see Sean McConville a lot, I’m good friends with him and we’ve had a bit of banter.

“No-one will be more pleased than me if Accrington do go up this season.”