SAM Finley could line up against Accrington Stanley tonight for new club Fleetwood having finally served his 10-match ban.

But the popular midfielder, who spent two seasons at the Wham Stadium, insists he will be treating it just like any other game.

Finley left Stanley by mutual consent last month and was snapped up Fleetwood soon after. Now he is just looking forward to returning to action.

“It’s been a long time coming, in terms of me coming back.,” he told the Fleetwood Town website. “I’ve been training well and have been doing some extra fitness work most days, doing some double sessions as well. I’m looking forward to it and can’t wait to get going.

“It’s just another game for me, especially with me having that lengthy spell out. It is just my first game back, regardless of who it’s against.

“It’s not felt like that long, with the changeover from club to club, it’s come a lot quicker than I thought it would.

“I’ve been keeping myself ticking over whilst off.

Going on runs down the beach and doing a bit of fitness in Crosby all so I would be ready to come back when I was called upon.”

The 28-year-old, who played 82 times for Stanley, scoring six times, said the club were often disrespected by rivals – something he and his Fleetwood teammates won’t be doing.

“They are a good side, the work rate that they have is great,” he said.

“The coaching staff there will be expecting front-foot football and for their players to start pressing from the front.

“I found that a lot of teams disrespected Accrington when I first joined them, and they got a bit of a rude awakening so the gaffer and everyone here knows that.

“They’ve been in League One for two years now so they know what is expected and know what is going to come their way so it will be an interesting game.

“It will be strange but it’s a game I’m looking forward to and one I can’t wait for.”

Finlay admitted he was "made up" to be able to swap East Lancashire for the Fylde Coast.

“As soon as Fleetwood came calling, I thought it would be a great opportunity, especially with everything going on in the world,” he said.

“As soon as this move became available, I was made up. It’s a great club with amazing facilities which are unbelievable.”