Met Police boss Jimmy Cooper may hope the return of midfielder Ty Smith is going to spark his side’s league form in to life, but he was left ruing his absence in the FA Cup.

Smith returned to Imber Court last week,  but did not feature in Saturday’s FA Cup first qualifying round 0-0 stalemate at Chalfont St Peter as he pulled his groin in the warm up.
 

It meant he was also ruled out of the replay on Tuesday night,   which saw the Blues dumped out by a late Scott Fitzgerald strike.
 

Smith was a key contributor as Met Police reached the first round proper last season, where they lost 2-1 at home to Crawley Town.
 

He had tried his luck at Ryman Premier rivals Canvey Island in the summer, but made a swift return to East Molesey due to the long drive to Essex.
 

And Cooper admitted he had an idea he had not seen the last of Smith when he walked out in the summer.
 

“We kept in touch after he left and I always knew the travelling for him was going to be a problem,” he said.
 

“It turns out I was right and we were more than happy to have him back.  Hopefully, he’ll bring something we’ve been lacking.”
 

Cooper’s  misery was compounded on Tuesday night when Josh Gallagher saw red midway through the second half.
 

Bury Town visit Imber Court on Saturday.