Eastleigh manager Richard Hill admits it is a boost to see Craig Stanley making his way back to full fitness.

The 31-year-old midfielder celebrated a goal on his Spitfires debut at Nuneaton Town on the opening day of the Vanarama Conference but hasn’t been seen on pitch since early August.

The former Aldershot captain, who arrived at the Silverlake Stadium in the summer, had torn a ligament in his foot during that match and, after more than a month out, he made the bench in the 2-2 draw with Forest Green Rovers on Tuesday.

It was in stark contrast to last season where he played every minute of every match but failed to score a goal for Shots.

Despite not coming on, his playing return could be set for the Braintree match at the Silverlake on Saturday (3pm).

“It’s a boost,” Hill said. “It’s been difficult for Stanners to be fair to him because he’s come and played the first game and picked up an injury not even the club doctor had seen before in all his years of working for Portsmouth.

“So it’s been a strange one.

“Anybody who has had a problem with the sole of their foot knows how difficult it is just walking.

“Stanners has had a torn ligament in the sole of his foot, the poor lad.

“I would have liked to have got him on the pitch (against Forest Green), perhaps in hindsight I should have got him on the pitch, but it wasn’t to be.”

Hill is also pleased to see striking duo Jack Midson and James Constable linking well.

The pair were together at Oxford United in the past and formed a prolific partnership there as The Us gained promotion to League Two in 2009/10, scoring 30 goals between them.

“They don’t look bad, do they?” Hill said with a smile.

“They’ve played together before, haven’t they and they’ve got promotion from this league with Oxford.

“They have got that knowhow there.”

Constable hit his fourth goal of the season, while he threaded through Midson for his third of the campaign.

It will be a Braintree side full of confidence coming to Stoneham Lane on Saturday.

The Essex outfit arrive having secured back-to-back victories against Kidderminster 2-0 at home and away at Aldershot Town on Tuesday, where they pulled of a 3-1 victory.

The Iron are headed by former West Ham and England player Alan Devonshire who led them to 6th – one place off the play offs – last term.

Eastleigh attacker Jai Reason, who has notched three goals this term as well as a few assists, is a former Cressing Road Stadium player, having won the Conference South title there in 2011.