Chris Simpson in action against world number 20 Shahier Razik at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0289706)

A NIGHTMARE season has not dented Chris Simpson’s belief that he has what it takes to join the world’s elite.

The 21-year-old Guernseyman insisted his long-term ambitions had not changed even though a succession of injuries has kept him out of action for several months and seen him slip more than 30 places in the world rankings, having reached a high of 51.

‘Most people peak aged about 28, but on a realistic scale, I need to make moves in the next two years,’ Simpson said during a brief return to the island. ‘I don’t want to be what I call a floating player, who floats around 25-35 in the world rankings. If I get there and stagnate, I think I would start looking for another career.

‘The top 16 is the place to be and I see that as a realistic goal for me.’

To achieve that, he desperately needs to string together an uninterrupted season. Importantly, though, he has the belief that he ‘can play with anyone’ and now it is more about his physicality than his squash ability.