Clarke has scored 11 goals this season

Nottingham Panthers' leading scorer David Clarke returns from injury this weekend for back-to-back games against Manchester Phoenix and Coventry Blaze.

Forward Clarke has missed the last six matches, with Panthers winning just once in that time.

He said:"You don't become a bad team overnight. We got ourselves into a rut which we now have to get out of, and that has to be this weekend."

Mark Richardson is set to feature after re-signing from Basingstoke.

Clarke added: "I've now been given the all clear so will be in the line-up this weekend.

"I've had a good week of practice and I'm raring to go."

Panthers host Manchester on Saturday at the National Ice Centre. The two sides met just two weeks ago at the NIC and Phoenix skated to a 4-1 victory, with player-coach Tony Hand bagging a hat-trick.

On Sunday, Panthers travel to Coventry for their third meeting of the season.

The sides drew 3-3 at the NIC in the Challenge Cup last weekend, but Panthers were defeated 6-5 in their last visit to the Skydome in September.

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