STEVE Payne reckons the experience within Macc Town's current squad could make them a better side than Sammy McIlroy's famous class of 1998.

The experienced centre half has been a frustrated spectator this campaign, with a serious knee injury keeping him out of training since pre-season. But having been involved in both squads - Payne reckons Brian Horton's current crop of players have what it takes to get promotion to League One.

'The thing about this squad is that everywhere you look, there are players with league experience,' he told Express Sport.

'They are an established league side now, and that's the mentality they've got to have.

'In 1998, we had been winning everything for about three years, and we went into games with that attitude.

'They were a great side, with some great players, but when you look at the current squad there's so much experience there.

'I suppose the final judgement will be to see whether this side gets promotion, but the club has started to turn a corner going to places like Yeovil and Wycombe and getting results.'

Macc's current points total of 42 is almost exactly the same as McIlroy's side at this stage of the season. That year, Macc went on to lose just three more games before the crucial victory over Exeter to send them into the old Division Two.

This week, Payne trained with the youth squad for the first time as he prepared to start the long journey back to full fitness and a possible return to the senior set-up this season.

But although he is a long way off a full recovery, the Castleford-born defender was full of excitement just to pull on his boots.

'I never thought I'd appreciate training this much. It has felt so good just to be a part of things again, so God knows what I'm going to be like before I start playing.

'It's a case of progressing from here now. We've got to see if there's any reaction from training.'

"Paul Lake has said it will be a couple of weeks before I can start thinking about a reserve game.'

This weekend's home game against Bury will be difficult one for Macc's new signing Danny Swailes - who joined the club just two weeks ago from Gigg Lane.

But the Bolton-born defender is glad to see he won't be lining up against his former team-mate Dave Nugent - who had cracked in 12 goals before joining Preston a fortnight ago.

'It'll seem strange playing against my old team-mates, but I've got a job to do for Macclesfield.

'I've been impressed with Brian Horton and he has told me to just keep playing my football.'

Macc haven't beaten Bury since November 2003, and Matt Tipton remains the only Silkmen player to ever score against them in the league.

The Silkmen will be without David Morley, who picked up his fifth booking of the season against Wycombe Wanderers last Saturday - four of them having come in a Doncaster Rovers shirt.

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