Darren Campion prepared to play through pain

The tough-guy AFC Telford United left-back was in the treatment room again this week after tweaking medial knee ligaments in Saturday's 3-2 defeat at Corby.

Campion also had two of the six stitches out in his mouth after smashing into advertising hoardings in the previous game at FC United of Manchester, a blow which also left him with heavy bruising to his legs.

And he's still troubled by the shoulder injury he suffered in his early weeks at the club.

But he has vowed to be back out there against leaders Nuneaton, where one-time £4m Villa striker Harewood plays, tomorrow.

"The gaffer bullies me into playing, so it's kind of out of my hands!" said Campion, one of three arrivals Smith brought from Hednesford along with Paul McCone and Curtis Tilt.

"He will say 'you're alright for Saturday aren't you? I don't need to get anyone in?

"I'll say 'It's touch and go' and he'll say 'you're playing Saturday', so he puts words into your head!

"I just hate missing games – I can't sit and watch anyone else in my position. It frustrates me and I get wound up and I'm still vocal on the sidelines, in the ref's ear."

Campion admits he plays through the pain barrier at times.

"My lip frustrated me against Corby, so I ended up having a tussle with someone there," he said.

"My shoulder's still playing me up but it's just getting time to strengthen it because the games have come thick and fast.

"I tweaked my medial knee ligaments against Corby after going into a tackle and jarring it out a bit. But I'll be there tomorrow, kicking someone!"

Telford's revival was stopped in its tracks as they lost 3-2 at bottom team Corby last week in a disappointing display.

But Campion reckons that the prospect of playing the leaders, with Harewood in tow, on home turf has got the pulses racing.

"The higher in the table the opposition is, the more up for it you get," he said.

"The gaffer will say 'you're playing against so-and-so who's one of the best in the league' and you think 'he isn't going to get the better of me'. So hopefully it will mean we play better."

And he is relishing the prospect of facing Harewood .

"Playing against someone like Marlon Harewood is a massive challenge," said Campion.

"It doesn't faze me – if he's trying to get past me and I'm not happy, I'm still going to kick him!

"He's playing at this level for a reason, whether that's because he wasn't doing it elsewhere or his attitude is wrong, whatever it may be, he's on par with us now."