JOHN Miles would love to fire Accrington Stanley into the top ten tonight against his former club.

The Reds have more Friday night football when they take on Macclesfield Town at the Fraser Eagle Stadium as they look to move in to eighth place and boost their play-off bid.

And former Macc man Miles would relish his Stanley chance to show what he can really do.

The 26-year-old winger signed from Moss Rose in the summer but, after playing the opening seven games, he has sat on the bench for the last four and feels his best is still to come for the Reds.

"I know I haven't set the world alight," said the honest Liverpudlian.

"I started the games at the start of the season but then I deserved to be dropped. There was other people coming in and putting in good performances so I think it was fair enough.

"I haven't been too happy with my performances since I have come here and I have struggled but I am still really enjoying being here.

"Now though I want to get back in the team and produce the displays that I know, and the manager knows, I can."

The Accrington fans have seen Miles at his best when he turned out for Macc in the do-or-die clash towards the end of last season with both sides battling against relegation.

He scored twice but Stanley won 3-2 to guarantee their survival - before his move to the Fraser Eagle Stadium.

Despite spending four seasons with the Silkmen and playing his part to help them stay up last season, Miles is preparing himself for a cool welcome from the visiting fans.

"I probably won't get the best reception," he admitted.

"I am just happy it is at home first! I did score some goals towards the end of the season to help keep Macclesfield up but I don't think the fans were happy with the way I left.

"I only told the gaffer (Paul Ince) I was leaving and then signed for Accrington. So I think it will be very mixed but I will live with it.

"I am still friendly with a lot of the Macclesfield player and speak to Kevin McIntyre and Carl Regan regularly.

"They have had a good start to the season and I am sure even they are surprised that they have only lost two matches. They have only won two as well but it will be a tough game.

"I would love to get the nod to play but the 5-3-2 formation we have been using has been working well, apart from Wrexham.

"If I do get another chance though I have got to make sure I stay in the team."

Manager John Coleman is without three players in goalkeeper Kenny Arthur, who is sidelined with a broken leg, winger Shaun Whalley has a hamstring strain while defender Phil Edwards still has a back injury.

Edwards is set to resume training on Monday while Ian Craney (hamstring) could make the bench for tonight's clash.

Sean Webb returns from international duty with Northern Ireland where he was on the bench for their 1-1 draw in Sweden while Rommy Boco, who has been away with Benin, scored in the Reds' 6-1 reserve loss to a strong Preston team on Wednesday.

Coleman has some decisions to make and admits it is tough, especially with Leighton McGivern and Roscoe Dsane both looking sharp up front.

He said: "It is difficult and I have got to have a long think as I stuck with the side which beat Bradford against Wrexham and got my fingers burnt.

"But I would rather have this situation than have the team pick itself.

"Macclesfield are a very resilient side and will be difficult to beat.

"They have surprised a lot of people as, with Paul Ince going and a couple of players, they might have thought they would find it hard but, fair play to them, they have done really well."

The Reds haven't had a draw this season and it will be a century of league games tomorrow since Stanley had a goalless encounter if both sides draw a blank.

"We always have a goal in us and probably the reason we are not threatening in the league at the moment is that we always seem to have a goal against us. I never go out for a goalless draw though - I always go to try and win every game," added Coleman.