Shane Tolley has described his return to St Neots Town as a “no-brainer” after scoring eight goals in 10 appearances for new managers Gary King and Zema Abbey.

Tolley left St Neots for Spalding United in June 2012 after spending much of the Saints’ Southern League Division One Central promotion season either on the bench or injured.

But those were different times and manager Dennis Greene had big-hitters Stefan Moore and Ben Mackey up front. These days the club is run more frugally, and Tolley’s return has coincided with the team’s rejuvenation under the new management duo.

King said: “Shane has hit the ground running since his return. He is an out-and-out goalscorer who has added a very important piece to our jigsaw.

“He works very hard both during the games and in training. He seems to have bought into everything we as a management team are trying to implement and I would think he is enjoying being back at St Neots.

“He is a good lad and it’s a pleasure to work with him.”

Tolley scored twice in St Neots’ 4-2 demolition of visitors Burnham at The Cozy Stadium on Saturday - and then got another one in the team’s 3-1 home win over Arlesey Town on Tuesday night. It was 29-year-old Tolley’s birthday on Tuesday and he told The Hunts Post he is enjoying his time back at the club.

“It was an easy decision to come back,” he said. “I was at Bury Town and things hadn’t worked out. St Neots wanted to sign me when I went to Bury, so when they showed interest again it was a no-brainer.

“The management team are still shaping things but if you look at the last couple of months, it is obvious the club is making progress. We need to be mathematically safe, but we already have one eye on next season.”

Tolley is a north Devon boy who moved to Peterborough to be a trainee at the London Road club. After his release at 19 he returned to Devon and was an FA Vase winner with Cornish club Truro City.

He signed for St Neots after coming back to Cambridgeshire and was a key player for Dennis Greene’s double promotion-winning side until leaving for Spalding in 2012.

Spells at Histon – with Greene – and King’s Lynn Town followed, before his short spell at Bury.

“I am enjoying my football at St Neots,” he said. “It’s good to be back and the club is on the right track.”

“I am really looking forward to next season.”