BOSS Tom Killick has backed Eastleigh loan recruit Tony Lee to add a “different dimension” to his attacking options at Poole Town.

The 19-year-old Shirley-based striker, who was handed his first professional contract in November having emerged from the Spitfires youth ranks, signed a month-long loan at Tatnam yesterday.

Lee, who scored six goals in three games for AFC Totton earlier this season, has also lined up for Dorchester and Gosport Borough during his breakthrough campaign.

Subject to paperwork, he could feature for Poole in tonight’s showdown with title rivals Hitchin Town (7.45) with another new face, Ashan Holgate – an ex-Eastleigh player - vying for a start.

The moves come on the back of Richard Gillespie’s latest injury setback and the loss of Toby Holmes to Dorchester but, despite the upheaval, Killick insists he is content with his bolstered frontline.

On Lee’s arrival, Killick said: “He had a loan spell at Dorchester which didn’t go particularly well, but went to Totton and did very well.

“Eastleigh saw enough from that loan to give him a contract before sending him to Gosport but he found his opportunities limited there.

“He is very enthusiastic and highly thought of at Eastleigh. With Richard Gillespie’s injury and losing Toby Holmes, we are short of attacking options. 

"Ashan Holgate is a certain type of player, he is very strong and powerful, while Tony is young, quick and mobile so I’m confident he can bring a very different dimension to our play.

“They are two good additions in very different ways and we need that kind of variety to keep things fresh.”

In-form Hitchin head to Dorset on the back of four straight wins and sit fourth, just three points behind Southern Premier Division leaders Poole having played the same number of matches.

Killick added: “I am not too worried about their form, the thing that concerns us is our lack of game time but we can’t complain. We are at home and it is up to us to convert recent draws into wins.

“If you were to draw against Hitchin it wouldn’t be a disaster but, on the back of past results, three points becomes all the more imperative.”

Steve Devlin and Michael Walker should come back into contention with former Bashley, Eastleigh and AFC Totton striker Gillespie likely to be Poole’s only absentee.