Sutton United return to the bread and butter of the National League this Saturday when they head to the Midlands to take on Solihull Moors.

It will be the first of two tough away games for the U’s who also face a trip to West Yorkshire on Tuesday to play relegation-threatened Guiseley. 

Despite the obvious distractions of the FA Cup and the rigours of the FA Trophy, Sutton manager Paul Doswell is desperate for his players to focus on the immediate task and improve on their poor away form which has garnered just one win all season, albeit at current league leaders Lincoln City back in August.

The U's boss is relieved to welcome back key members of his squad having had nine players missing from Tuesday's defeat at Boreham Wood.

Doswell said:“We’ve worked hard to get into the National League and we want to stay there.

“We’ll be helped by having Nicky Bailey, Roarie Deacon, Ben Jefford and Louis John all available for selection against Solihull.

“Simon Downer has nine bookings to his name and is knackered, to be honest. He deserves a breather. It would be wrong of me to play him with the Arsenal game coming up. He’s been brilliant for us.

“Although it promises to be a great occasion, we are not thinking of the Arsenal game at the moment. There’s a lot of football to be played between now and then.

"We've got to look at the bigger picture. I will be happy if we get three points from these next two games.

“We’re trying to give ourselves as good a chance as possible by doing things the right way, so we’ll be staying over at a hotel for the Guiseley game and coming back on Wednesday.”

Solihull were promoted to the National League last season along with Sutton after securing the National North title. 

The two teams met on the opening day at Gander Green Lane where Moors put in an impressive performance to win 3-1, ending United’s 26 game unbeaten league run carried over from the previous season.

The Midlanders had an excellent FA Cup run of their own, defeating League Two Yeovil Town on penalties in the first round before succumbing 6-2 at Luton Town despite going 2-0 up early on.

Moors, currently one place and a point above the U’s in 15th, go into the game with fresh legs having not played since a 1-0 home defeat to Lincoln on January 31 after last week's trip to Woking was postponed, a fact Solihull manager Liam McDonald describes as "a blessing in disguise."

It's an altogether different story for Sutton who have had two tough bouts with Boreham Wood in the FA Trophy in the past week alone.

With a busy schedule between now and the end of the season - including three lengthy away trips at Guiseley, Torquay and Barrow coming up - Doswell has recruited former Arsenal trainee Jack Jebb, once dubbed the new Jack Wilshire.

Along with Craig Eastmond, Roarie Deacon and Jeffrey Monakana, Jebb is the fourth former Gunner at the club and caught the eye playing in a practise match for the U’s against Eastbourne Borough last week.

Since leaving Arsenal, the talented midfielder has had spells with League Two sides Stevenage and Newport County.

Jebb is cup-tied for the big game against his former side having already made an appearance in this year's competition as a second half substitute for Newport at Plymouth.

Tickets for Sutton's FA Cup fifth round tie at home to Arsenal go on sale this Sunday at the clubhouse. For full ticket details visit suttonunited.net