Eastleigh manager Richard Hill insists that Michael Green still has a role to play at the Spitfires despite the club capturing ex-Saint Dan Harding

Manager Richard Hill gave 31-year-old Harding the nod over Green for Saturday’s pleasing 4-0 opening day win at Southport.

But though it marked the end of local lad Green's reign as first-choice left-back, Hill insists he is still a key squad member and may even be utilised in a central defensive role at some stage.

Speaking ahead of tomorrow's (Tuesday, 7.45pm) home opener against Boreham Wood at the Silverlake, Hill said: “Michael Green has still got a big part to play, he’s still very much part of our squad.

“I have my own thoughts on other positions Greener could play for us and I think that, in time, he would make a very good left-sided centre-back.

“He’s brave, he heads the ball and he can run. It might even suit him better than playing left-back.”

With skipper Paul Reid ruled out by a slight groin strain, Hill moved Joe Partington from right-back to centre-half at Southport.

And when Partington fell victim of a horrible challenge from Andrai Jones, resulting in the Southport man’s dismissal, Green was in line to fill the central defensive void had the former AFC Bournemouth man been unable to continue.

“Joe played on, but when it looked like he might not be able to, I was going to put Michael Green on at centre-back,” said the boss. “We had worked on it last Thursday and Greener looked OK.

“He will get chances at left-back too because we can’t keep flogging Dan in that position.

“In some games we might have the luxury of taking Dan out for a while and putting Greener on the pitch to get forward more.”

The impeccable Harding did everything expected of him at Southport, having signed a two-year contract last Thursday.

“When Dan gets the ball, he doesn’t panic, and he always passes it to exactly the right place, not just in the general area of where he wants it to go,” purred Hill.

“And what a player (ex-Luton midfielder) Andy Drury is! He was unbelievable at Southport, with Ben Strevens, and it was a toss-up between him and Turley for our best player.

“Up front Ross Lafayette worked his nuts off. He had two good chances which he should have scored and didn’t, but he’s got the strength and power. For me, he’s a young Craig McAllister.”

Midfielder Josh Payne, suspended for the Southport trip, returns to the reckoning for tomorrow's visit of Boreham Wood.

The newly-promoted Conference South play-off winners also got off to a positive start on Saturday, beating FC Halifax 3-1 in Hertfordshire.