Jamie Byatt is back where he loves playing football, and the striker is all geared up to fire Corinthian Casuals into the play-offs.

The prolific hitman scored 59 goals in two seasons before leaving in the summer looking for a new challenge.

However, after spells at Tooting & Mitcham United and Whyteleafe, Byatt was back in Casuals colours last month.

He has signed until the end of the season, and following Saturday’s 1-0 win at Peacehaven & Telscombe – thanks to Shaun Okojie’s goal – it could prove a productive run-in.

After Monday’s game was postponed, Casuals sit seventh in the Ryman Division One South table, five points off the play-offs with five games to go – starting this weekend at home to struggling East Grinstead Town.

Byatt said: “I left Casuals to try a couple of other things, but they did not work out so I ended up back where I love playing.

“I could not stay away, I love it too much.

“I packed it in at Leafe, and I chilled out for a couple of weeks. Then I went to watch Casuals play and it went from there. I ended up signing until the end of the season.”

He added: “It was an easy decision – once James [Bracken, manager] asked me, there was no decision to make. I wanted to sign, get playing and scoring goals.”

He added: “We still have a shout for making the play-offs and it could end up as a really good season.

“It is quite tight, we have to concentrate on winning our games and hopefully we can nick a spot.”

Byatt says little has changed since his departure in the summer, but one thing he has noticed is the youth and hunger in the side.

“It’s roughly all the same, but it is good to have a lot of young players there,” he said.

“They are winning and putting the effort and energy in. When you’re playing other teams with older players, they can tire towards the end – whereas Casuals have a lot of young players trying to make it in football, it’s good to have.”

The big question remains whether Byatt will leave again in the summer, or commit to another season scoring goals for Casuals.

However, Byatt does not have an answer for the Casuals fans who have welcomed him back with open arms.

He said: “You never know – it depends on what happens. Managers who do well get offers somewhere else, it happened with Matt [Howard] last year.

“James has done really well, and if he gets Casuals into the play-offs, then clubs might come sniffing around and he might not be around next year – but hopefully he is.

“Anything can happen over the summer, you cannot say I will definitely be somewhere because you never know what’s going to happen.”