The much-travelled striker has been brought in by manager Micky Mellon as Fleetwood aim to get back on track for the title at third-placed Hinckley tomorrow after a couple of recent worrying defeats.

But Thorpe, who unwittingly joined the ranks of bizarre footballing injuries when hurt in that embarrassing prank on the team bus, is sure Fleetwood can muscle up and regain their momentum for the crucial end of the season.

The one-time Blackpool striker said: "Since I started training with the Fleetwood team, I have been surprised at the quality there is at the club and the high tempo atwhich they play – there are players here who could perform in the Football League.

"Now I am looking forward to helping Fleetwood back to winning ways.

"The team had been on a great run before they lost their last two games, but that sometimes happens to sides at the top of the table at this stage of the season, and a couple of wins will ease a lot of the pressure."

Thorpe has renewed acquaintance with Mellon, who was at Bloomfield Road when Thorpe was a young player.

He became available after settling the terms of his contract with LeagueTwo strugglers Darlington.

As the settlement came well after the closure of the January transfer window,Thorpe was unable to play for a League Two or Conference side, so the move to Highbury, on a week-to-week contract until the end of the season, is ideal for him.

He said: "I came to an agreement with Darlington and left the club – after that Micky Mellon, who has always been a good mate, contacted me about coming to Fleetwood.

"It suited me because after all the travelling I have done throughout my career, I didn't fancy moving a long way from my home in Harrogate."

Thorpe has certainly hit the road since leaving his first club, Blackpool.

The 34-year-old has played at Lincoln, Leyton Orient, Grimsby Town, Bristol Rovers, Swansea City, Peterborough United, Torquay United, Brentford, Rochdale and latterly Darlington.

It was at Sincil Bank that Thorpe crossed paths with Keith Alexander, the Macclesfield manager who died this week at the age of 54.

Thorpe was at Lincoln when Alexander was assistant manager, and he was as shocked as anyone about the sudden death of the Macc boss.

He said: "Like everyone else, I was gutted when I heard the news – he was a great bloke.

"It was fitting that he was recognised at the top level of football when the players wore black arm-bands in the England gameatWembley onWednesday night because Keith was certainly a top-level bloke."

Alexander made a tentative inquiry about signing Thorpe for the Silkmen during the January transfer window.

Thorpe will bring plenty to Fleetwood on the field – though off it, arm-wrestling is strictly off limits!

Two years ago, while playing for Rochdale, Thorpe broke his arm in three places while armwrestling on the way to a match at Darlington.

He said: "People remember it, though it's not something I like to be remembered by!

"It was just one of those things – at Rochale we used to armwrestling as a way of settling arguments, just a little bit of banter and a bit of fun, which went wrong!

"I don't really like being reminded of it..."

Thorpe prefers to let people recall his footballing exploits in the lower league – and now grappling with the Blue Square North opposition in Fleetwood's promotion push, which has faltered of late.

He said: "I have been involved in important play-off matches and I hope that kind of experience can help Fleetwood."

¦HINCKLEYthemselves have added an experienced striker to their ranks in former Leicester and Aston Villa man Julian Joachim, who has signed for the club, along with Bardon Hill Sports forward Liam Hebberd.