IF Eastleigh'S new signing Andy Forbes wants a role model to help steer him back to full fitness, he need look no further than 'Mr Golden Boot' himself Paul Sales.

When former Bashley and Salisbury striker Sales was signed for £15,000 last summer he was considered by many to be an injury risk.

But after years of problems, including operations on both groins, he emerged stronger and fitter last season, running out top scorer in the Dr Martens Eastern Division with 29 goals.

Having splashed out another five-figure sum on their latest strike signing, Andy Forbes from Winchester City, manager Paul Doswell is hoping he too will benefit from Eastleigh's proven physio and fitness regime.

Persistently tight calf muscles mean Forbes will be on the bench for tomorrow's Ryman Premier opener at Tonbridge Angels, but Sales should be his inspiration.

Doswell recalled: "We used to call Paul 'The mummy' because he had so many bandages, but the days are over of him having to wear silly shorts to keep his hamstrings warm. The main thing is getting players to rehabilitate properly and we got the message through to Paul that he'd have to work a lot on his own. He's done that and I've never seen him look so fit.

"Andy's worked hard and trained well this week and had two physio treatments and I'm sure he'd like to play tomorrow. But we've got to do right by him and right by us. We've also got to do right by Paul and Robbie Matthews who deserve to start."

Nicky Banger, another of Eastleigh's quality stable of strikers, will be out of the reckoning tomorrow. The ex-Saint is back in training after a broken arm, but won't be ready for at least a fortnight.

Slight doubts hover over Danny Rofe (tweaked ankle), Martin Beck (calf strain) and defender Chris Collins, who has been on antibiotics for an infected insect bite on his foot.

Third-placed Tonbridge finished a notch above Eastleigh in the DML Eastern Division last season, but Doswell's men had the better head-to-head record, drawing away and winning at home.

Wayne Shaw, Eastleigh goalkeeping coach and first-team understudy to Colin Matthews, looks likely to stay at the Sparshatts Stadium.

Mick Catlin was keen to sign him for Fleet Town, but the Ryman 1 outfit have brought in Peter Houkes from Moneyfields instead.

Doswell was happy for Shaw to sign for both clubs as long as he fulfils his coaching duties for Eastleigh, but Catlin said: "We can't loan Wayne because he's a non-contract player and, in any case, we want people to be 100 per cent. It'd be difficult to play for one club and train with another."

Fleet's former England international, Andy Sinton, will make his league debut at Hastings United tomorrow having impressed in a friendly against Eastleigh reserves.

Despite missing most of pre-season, the former Tottenham and Sheffield Wednesday man lasted well in soaring summer temperatures and Catlin acknowledged: "He was a bit rusty through lack of games, but he's very fit and showed some good touches."

Lee Paul, a new strike signing from Havant & Waterlooville, is having intensive treatment on a groin injury ahead of tomorrow's game.