PADIHAM welcome back Ian Whittaker for tonight's game at home to Ashton Town.

The midfielder has missed the Storks' last two games while on holiday and his return has boosted manager Graham Howarth's depleted troops.

Padiham are looking to bounce back from their disappointing 3-0 defeat at home to Maine Road on Saturday.

But captain Carl Parker is missing, as is Craig Wilkinson and Kirk Marsden.

Ian Pilkington, meanwhile, is still sidelined after damaging knee ligaments and is not expected to return to action for at least two weeks.

Howarth said: "We played quite well on Saturday. We had plenty of possession but we just never really looked like scoring."