RICHARD Hill is more convinced than ever that Eastleigh’s Michael Green is destined to end his career as a left-sided centre-back.

The 26-year-old has been ousted from the left-back slot by ex-Saint Dan Harding this term, but manager Hill felt all along that he could do a job in central defence if required.

That need arose at Altrincham on Tuesday night where, with skipper Paul Reid injured, Green put in an impeccable performance alongside Jamie Turley in the heart of the back four before reverting to left-back late on as Eastleigh came back from behind to salvage a 1-1 draw.

Speaking before the sixth-placed Spitfires hit the road again to Chester on Saturday, manager Hill said: “Sometimes you look at a player and think 'could they play another position?' and with Greener you felt it would either be left midfield or centre-half.

“He played left midfield a couple of times and it became apparent he can’t (play there), but he started at centre-back on Tuesday and did very, very well. He played the position as if he’d been there all his career.

“When you’ve got the centre halves we’ve got and the cover of Joe Partington and Will Evans you’ve got to be brave to give someone their first opportunity there in a league game.

“I could easily have taken the safe option of playing Will there and bringing Jai Reason into central midfield, but I didn’t want to. Will was in midfield to start with and did very well and I was pleased with Greener, he gave me no cause for concern at all.

“He’s brave, he’s quick and gives us a bit of balance on the left – plus he attacks the ball in the air which not many do these days.

“OK, he’s only played one game there, but if he can do what he did the other night he will be a more than adequate central defender in this league.”

Young goalkeeper Lewis Noice coped well in place of Portsmouth loanee Michael Poke who damaged his shoulder against Gateshead.

It’s too soon to say how long Poke will be out but Hill expects to see club No1 Ross Flitney back in action before the Pompey man.

Flitney, who cracked a thumb bone on the second day of pre-season, is due to have an X-ray later today .

But even if he gets the all-clear, Hill suspects tomorrow will be too soon. “They’ll probably want Ross to do some training to see if there’s any reaction,” he said.

Tuesday’s draw put the brakes on a two-match losing streak for Eastleigh and, more importantly for Hill, his side played well.

“We’ve played some decent football in spells this season and I felt the other night we played good football for longer spells.

“If we hadn’t got anything from the game, I’d have been disappointed with the result, but not the performance. The lads did everything I asked them to.”

Chester, 15th, are without a win in four. With strikers Craig Hobson and Ross Hannah fit again, loanee frontman Josh O’Hanlon has returned to AFC Bournemouth after just two appearances.