Tom Bender pleased to make Accrington Stanley comeback

Bender is on a season-long loan at Accrington from Colchester

Accrington defender Tom Bender has said he is pleased to be back in action after six weeks out with a head injury.

Bender, 18, was left unconscious after colliding with Stanley keeper Ian Dunbavin and Tranmere's Lucas Akins during a Johnstone's Paint Trophy tie.

He was treated on the pitch for 30 minutes before the game was abandoned.

"It has been made a big deal of but it's over and done with. Thankfully I can get back playing," he told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"I don't remember a thing of it so I wasn't bothered at all. I just wanted to get back playing.

"I think I wanted to get playing a little sooner than they (the doctors) wanted me to. They weren't too happy with me wanting to get back within a week and I think they did the right thing keeping me back."

Bender has now set his sights on becoming a regular in the Stanley defence following his appearance as a substitute in the 4-1 FA Cup defeat at Notts County.

"Everyone wants to stay in the team, that's just the way it is," he said. "The players that aren't in the team want to get in the team like myself.

"For me to come on, it was an opportunity to show what I can do. I worked as hard as I could and hopefully that has given me a better chance of starting."

Meanwhile, Accrington are appealing against Andy Proctor's red card in the defeat at Meadow Lane.

The midfielder was dismissed by referee Gavin Ward for a professional foul on Magpies striker Karl Hawley.