David Clarkson has declared himself ready, willing and able if called upon to spearhead Bristol City's attack against Championship newcomers Peterborough United at Ashton Gate this afternoon.

Out of action since being struck down by a virulent bug almost two months ago, the Scotland international striker has not featured in a first-team game since City's 0-0 draw with Swansea on September 15.

The road back to full fitness has necessarily been long and arduous, but the summer signing from Motherwell finally feels ready to do himself justice if recalled to manager Gary Johnson's starting line-up.

Although reserve-team football is at best a variable barometer of form, Clarkson's recent performances in the Wales & West Combination suggest his recent confinement has done little to blunt his predatory instincts in front of goal.

In fact, a notable return of five goals in three second- string outings in the past fortnight has propelled the Scot into pole position to replace Alvaro Saborio should the Costa Rica forward be deemed too weary to face Posh following his World Cup qualifying exploits on the other side of the Atlantic.

Saborio's late return – he flew back into the United Kingdom only last night – has raised the prospect of a recall for Clarkson or Danny Haynes, either of whom could conceivably partner top scorer Nicky Maynard against the only team in the Championship yet to register a clean sheet this season.

"Of course it's down to the manager which side he selects, but I'm ready if called upon," claimed Clarkson, who further pushed his case for inclusion when weighing in with a timely hat-trick in Tuesday's 7-0 reserve-team rout of Bournemouth at Dean Court.

"I've now played three reserve-team games in as many weeks and, although they are not the same as matches in the Championship, they have helped me get back my fitness and sharpness.

"I know the opposition is not always the strongest, but you get out of these games what you put in and I've worked hard. Scoring a hat-trick at any level is good for confidence and I feel ready to go."

Clarkson, who scored on his Championship debut in a 2-2 draw at Preston North End on the opening day of the campaign, is now desperate to make up for lost time.

He revealed: "Being ill and unable to play for so long was incredibly frustrating. All I could do was rest and wait for the infection to clear out of my body.

"The first couple of weeks were terrible and it seems to have taken an age to get back to this point. But I'm happy now I'm training properly and playing again and I just want to get my place back in the first team. It's up to me to keep working hard and take my chance when it comes."

Past experience means Clarkson knows better than to count his proverbial chickens before they have hatched and he insists he and his team-mates will not fall into the trap of taking Posh lightly.

It would be all too easy to view Darren Ferguson's struggling team – Peterborough are one place off the foot of the table having won only once in 11 games since winning promotion to the second tier – as sacrificial lambs if it were not for the fact that City have already slipped up against so-called lowly opposition this term.

Scunthorpe United and Derby County resided in the basement when meeting City, only to issue a stark reminder that there are no easy games in the Championship, the former coming from behind to snatch a draw at Ashton Gate and the latter inflicting an unexpected 1-0 defeat on the Robins at Pride Park a week later.

In a clear reference to back-to-back home games against Peterborough and Plymouth, who visit Bristol on Tuesday, Clarkson said: "Just because they are in the bottom three does not mean they are going to make life easy for us.

"We've seen it before in this league and, sometimes, those teams are the ones who have nothing to lose and put up the biggest struggle.

"I expect nothing different from any side managed by Darren Ferguson.

"Of course, our home form has been good, we're going into this game full of confidence after a couple of good results and we have a great opportunity to move up the table.

"But we have to make sure we get our game together and don't take Peterborough lightly. To do that would definitely be a big mistake."