EASTLEIGH boss Ben Strevens is sweating on injuries to key players ahead of Saturday's big Vanarama National League test at promotion rivals Salford City.

With Ben Williamson and Oscar Gobern already sidelined, the Spitfires miraculously pulled off a fourth straight league win at home to Braintree last weekend in the most testing of circumstances.

Defensive titan Reda Johnson, goal machine Paul McCallum and skipper Danny Hollands hobbled out of the action and a fourth, set-piece maestro Mark Yeates, played on in obvious discomfort.

Johnson’s early replacement Cav Miley definitely misses the Salford trip having been sent off for two bookable offences and manager Ben Strevens is playing a waiting game to find which of his wounded soldiers will be fit to face The Ammies.

Yeates banged his ribs and jaw in a collision with Braintree’s Robert Atkinson, but thankfully a scan revealed no more than heavy bruising.

McCallum was also due a scan on back/shoulder problems sustained at Aldershot two weeks ago, while midfielder Hollands (groin) and Johnson (hamstring) also missed training earlier in the week.

Strevens’ best guess is that Johnson and Williamson (groin) are highly unlikely to be fit for the trip to Greater Manchester, while Yeates, Hollands and ex-Saint Gobern are 50-50.

As for 19-goal marksman McCallum, he has played in pain for the last two games – scoring twice in each of them! – and Strevens said: “As long as his scan comes back clear, Macca will try and get through it as best he can.”

With only a small squad of senior players, the injuries are a concern for eighth-placed Eastleigh, who sit proudly on top of the divisional form chart over the last 20 games.

But with 20-year-old AFC Bournemouth defender Shaun Hobson due back in training after injury, numbers could soon be boosted.

The centre-back joined the Spitfires on loan just before the January transfer window closed and Strevens said: “All being well, he’ll be with us next week and hopefully available for the next home game (FC Halifax Town, March 2).

“He was all set to join a League club in January, but then he got injured. Bournemouth got in touch with us because they want to get him game time and we need cover for injuries.”

Salford have achieved three promotions in four seasons since Manchester United’s ‘Class of 92’ took over the club in late 2015.

They hit the headlines again last month when global superstar David Beckham became a club director, acquiring a ten per cent stake.

Beckham was mobbed by fans when he made his first appearance at Salford last weekend.

He didn’t bring them any luck, though. The out-of-form Ammies, now fifth, lost 3-1 to ex-Eastleigh boss Andy Hessenthaler’s Dover and have not tasted victory since January 12.

Pondering whether Beckham will be there again on Saturday, Strevens said: “I hope so, he’s a legend – but it’ll be a good game regardless of who’s there. It’s great for this league that guys like him are investing.

“With the talent Salford have got, it’ll be tough. I just hope our injuries clear up and we’re as close to a full team as we can get.”