Harley eyeing happy Christmas

Exeter midfielder Ryan Harley admits he will he will not be back to his best until the festive period.

The 29-year-old returned to St James Park on loan from Swindon two weeks ago but has been suffering with a lack of match fitness having fallen out of favour at the County Ground. Harley featured for the final 11 minutes of City's 3-2 win at Accrington on Friday night, his first Football League appearance since March. "It will probably be three or four weeks until I'm properly back to full tilt," he explained. "I hadn't trained for a month previously so it will take time but I feel okay at the minute." While Harley has been reunited with the likes of Liam Sercombe, Scot Bennett and David Noble, familiar faces from his previous stay in Devon, he has also got to know the latest crop of youngsters graduating from the academy. Star midfielder Matt Grimes was playing for City's youth sides when Harley departed in 2011 while in-form striker Tom Nichols was sent on for his Exeter bow in Harley's final appearance before a move to Swansea. And Harley has been impressed with their development in the last four years. He said: "They were in the youth team when I was here so I don't remember too much about them, but they are a really good and talented group. "Tom made his debut in my last game and he was one coming through then, you could tell he had potential. He is doing really well now."