NEW signing Gavin Hoyte should be ready to join Eastleigh’s squad for tomorrow evening’s (Tuesday, December 27, 7.45pm) televised Vanarama National League showdown with Boreham Wood at the Silverlake Stadium.

The Trinidad and Tobago international has been working his way back to match fitness since putting pen to paper on an 18-month Spitfires contract nearly two weeks ago.

The 26-year-old defender, signed from manager Martin Allen’s old club Barnet, had a rough ride with injuries after joining the Bees in the summer of 2015.

The luckless right-back ruptured an anterior crucial knee ligament in February this year and it was nine months before he played again.

But his second start back ended in disappointment when he pulled a hamstring just 14 minutes into a 2-2 draw at Newport County in late October.

Ex-Arsenal, Dagenham and Gillingham man Hoyte, signed by Eastleigh on a free transfer, has been making good progress since becoming a Spitfire, however.

Allen reported: “He’s trained all week and he’s fit and available. He’ll be in the squad.”

Eastleigh, meanwhile, have added another new addition to their squad, signing Doncaster Rovers left-back Tyler Garratt on loan..

The 20-year-old, who arrived at the Keepmoat Stadium from Bolton Wanderers in the summer, will remain with the Spitfires until January 28.

Tomorrow’s match, to be televised live on BT Sport, is Allen’s first home league game in charge.

It kicks off a festive double header for the Spitfires who make the return trip to Meadow Park on New Year’s Eve (1pm).

A Hampshire-Hertfordshire showdown hardly qualifies as traditional festive derby fayre, but Allen knows the visitors well.

There is less than five miles dividing Boreham Wood and his old club Barnet.

“I know the people at Boreham Wood and they’ve done really well to get where they are,” said Allen.

“They’ve got a good manager (Luke Garrard) and they’re a very good club run on a shoestring budget.

“I watched them play at Aldershot (a 1-0 defeat) and we’re going to have to be at our best tonight to get anything out of it.”

Eastleigh will be without suspended duo Joe Partington (three matches) and on-loan Wolves youngster Hakeem Odoffin (one match), who were both sent off in the 4-3 defeat at Southport.

“We appealed against Partington’s dismissal and lost it,” Allen revealed. “At the time, I thought Hakeem’s sending-off was a bit harsh too but on reflection, having viewed it, it was the correct decision by the referee.”

Boreham Wood were beaten 1-0 at home by Braintree last Tuesday, leaving them without a win in their last four league games.