Brown facing six months out (From Daily Echo)

Brown facing six months out

11:08am Tuesday 19th February 2008 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

EASTLEIGH'S capture of midfielder Karl Murray from Grays Athletic was prompted by news that Jamie Brown will face six months on the sidelines after he undergoes a major hip operation next month.

Brown, who has been dogged with hip and back trouble all season, will undergo surgery on March 12 and is unlikely to be back before the start of next term.

Manager Ian Baird reported: "The surgeon reckons Jamie will be out for six months. They've got to break the femur and tear through the ligaments to get right into the hip joint. It's a nasty operation."

With fellow midfielder David Hughes struggling with back trouble and Fitzroy Simpson in line for a job with the Jamaican FA, Baird would have been short of midfield bodies - hence the arrival of Murray.

At just 25, the Londoner has a proven track record, having played 114 games in five years for Shrewsbury Town and 134 games for Football Conference outfit Woking.

Despite summer interest by both Eastleigh and Baird's old club Havant & Waterlooville, Murray made the switch to Blue Square Premier side Grays, but he failed to settle at The New Rec and had his contract terminated by mutual consent.

"Eastleigh tried to sign Karl before I got here and, when I was manager of Havant, I was interested in him as well. I spoke to his old Woking boss Glenn Cockerill about him in the summer," revealed Baird.

"From what I gather, we've stepped in and got him just ahead of Rushden & Diamonds and Oxford United."

Sutton striker Warren McBean is also expected to join the Eastleigh fold ahead of tonight's heavyweight clash at second-placed Eastbourne Borough.

The Spitfires will be looking to bolster their play-off hopes by making it eight league games unbeaten while Eastbourne have the chance to depose Sussex neighbours Lewes from top spot.

"It's a very important game for both clubs," said Baird. "Eastbourne and Lewes are big rivals and this is Eastbourne's game in hand over them."

Baird has already drawn 2-2 at Eastbourne as manager of Havant this season, while the Spitfires were pipped 2-1 at home by Borough on December 29, before launching their unbeaten run.