KIWI Test star Peter Fulton has revealed he would love to play for Cleethorpes again next year after his first season with the club was cut short by injury.

The hard-hitting batsman has proved to be a big success at Chichester Road since his arrival at the start of the season, scoring over 900 runs for the Meggies in league and cup, including three tons.

But, as reported in yesterday's Telegraph, the 31-year-old is returning to New Zealand today after tearing a hamstring in the Yorkshire ECB Premier League match against Sheffield Collegiate at the weekend.

The injury rules him out of Clee's final four fixtures of the season and the club's Twenty20 cup competition on September 5.

"It's not the way I would have wanted to end the season and to head home two or three weeks early is really disappointing," Fulton told the Telegraph.

"I have got to think about the season back home in New Zealand and need to get the injury sorted as soon as possible so I'm ready for that.

"I felt it go in the back of my leg when I was setting off for a run – it's not too serious and if it was the start of the season or we were going for the league title then I would probably play through it, but I need to be right to play for Canterbury in a few weeks."

Reflecting on his time in North East Lincolnshire – which has seen him score a sackload of runs as the Meggies struggled in the lower reaches of the table – Fulton said: "It's been really good. I've met a lot of nice people at the club and they really have gone out of their way to look after me and make me feel welcome.

"I've really enjoyed it out in the middle as well. It's a good standard of cricket and I've scored a few runs, so it's been great.

"Hopefully I can come back next year and play a full season. If I'm not injured or in the New Zealand team I would be keen to return.

"There are a lot of talented kids down there and it would be really interesting to come back next season and see how they have developed over the winter – I think some of those youngsters could have a big future in the game."

On the prospects of a return to the New Zealand side – for whom he has played both Tests and one-day-internationals – 'Fults' added: "I wouldn't say I am focused on getting back in the New Zealand side. My main focus is to get back and score as many runs as I can for Canterbury, I can't do any more than that."

BATTING

Matches: 21

Innings: 21

NO: 0

Runs: 909

HS: 121

100s: 3

50s: 4

Average: 43.29

BOWLING

Overs: 92.5

Maidens: 8

Wickets: 17

Runs: 402

Best: 4-61

Average: 23.65