Eastleigh have acted quickly to bring in goalkeeper cover for injured first choice stopper Ross Flitney, with former Saints custodian Michael Poke arriving on loan from Portsmouth. 

Flitney, the Spitfires' supporters' player of the year for 2014/15, was ruled out with a thumb injury for six weeks earlier this month. 

That means the 31-year-old will miss the start of the Vanarama National League season and left understudy Lewis Noice filling in for pre-season friendlies.

Ahead of their home friendly against Oxford United tomorrow at the Silverlake (3pm) manager Richard Hill has added the vastly experienced Poke to his squad on a temporary deal. 

A club statement said: "Eastleigh would like to offer their thanks to Portsmouth and their manager Paul Cook for their assistance in the arrangement of this deal. Michael will be squad number 19."

Poke started his career at St Mary's, where he made four first-team appearances. He left Saints on loan to Oldham Athletic, Northampton Town, Woking and Torquay United during six years at the Hampshire club.

The Staines-born keeper left for Brighton in 2010 before a temporary spell at Bristol Rovers and then a permanent move to Torquay.

The 29-year-old then joined Portsmouth last summer.