WINCHESTER City new boy Lewis Tallack may well have played his way into the starting line-up for Saturday's home game against Paulton Rovers in the Southern One South & West.

After dipping his toe in the water with a late appearance off the bench in last Saturday’s 3-1 league win at Barnstaple, the 24-year-old Poole Town full-back impressed on his first start in Tuesday’s 6-1 Hampshire Senior Cup romp at Fleet.

His addition to the squad is just the boost City needed after losing young Joe Hayward to a broken leg at Mangotsfield last month.

Tallack made 46 appearances for Poole’s Southern Premier title-winning team last season before informing manager Tom Killick that he was taking a year out of football to concentrate on work and studies.

But the ex-Portsmouth, Dorchester and Eastbourne Borough right-back has returned to action earlier than expected and City boss Ian Saunders believes a loan spell at Winchester will be beneficial to all three parties.

“We’ve agreed to look after Lewis for the time being and we hope to get as much football out of him as possible,” he said. “Then when he gets his chance to step back up with Poole, we’ll allow him to go with open arms.

“It’s good for us with Joe Hayward being out, good for Poole that he can get match fit at a half-decent level and it helps Lewis too. If you haven’t played for a while, the National League South is a big step.

“Lewis started for us at Fleet and was top-drawer for 70 minutes, especially considering he hadn’t played for six months.”

Young IK Hill is also pushing for selection against Paulton after making an immediate impact off the bench at Fleet.

The 16-year-old sub’s first touch was to get the ball out of his body and his second was to expertly strike it across the ’keeper for City’s sixth of the game.

“IK’s travelled with us for a few weeks, he’s been patient and worked hard,” said Saunders. “He thoroughly deserved his chance.

“It was great to see the reaction of the senior players who mobbed him straight away. He’s in the squad on merit.

"IK's a real good propect. Yes, he's young and we all know how tough this league can be, but the only way he'll get experience is by doing it." 

City hope to have midfielder Danny Smith fit this weekend, but Jamie Ford is working, Matt Evans, Hayward and Jason Silver are injured and Dan Simmonds is suspended.

Saturday's game is a big one for both clubs as they strive for mid-table security. City are 17th, two points better off than Paulton with two games in hand.