LOCAL lad-made-good Jason Prior has joined Gosport Borough on loan from Dartford for the remainder of the season.

The 25-year-old former Moneyfields and Bognor Regis Town striker was a man in demand two years ago when, with Eastleigh having struck a £12,500 deal with Bognor for his services, he was invited to join Newcastle United on trial.

The Spitfires subsequently withdrew their interest and, with Newcastle deciding against offering him a contract, he signed a two-and-a-half year deal with AFC Wimbledon in League Two.

His Dons debut proved an ill-fated one with Prior sustaining knee damage that sidelined him for the best part of two months.

It marked the start of a cruel catalogue of injuries for the Portsmouth-born player who suffered a double leg break against Crawley Town in April 2012, which kept him out until the following Christmas.

As part of his recuperation, Prior – scorer of an incredible 95 goals in 126 appearances for Bognor – joined Dartford on loan.

He was released from his Wimbledon contract in May last year and rejoined the Darts in the Skrill Conference Premier on a permanent deal.

But his injury hoodoo has since struck again and he has only recently returned to training after a lengthy spell out with a broken ankle.

It is estimated he now needs two to three more weeks’ rehabilitation and fitness work before he can return to the field and aid Borough’s fight for Conference South survival.

With Gosport drawing 1-1 at Havant & Waterlooville in Monday’s FA Trophy semi-final first leg, manager Alex Pike joked ahead of Saturday's ‘Wembley’ decider: “Jason’s in rehab for his broken ankle – but he might just make the final!”