SALISBURY CITY assistant manager Barry Blankley has played down his interest in former Bristol City and Bashley striker Stuart Hussey.

While admitting there is an element of truth to rumours that he has spoken to Hussey, he explained: "I bumped into him at an ex-Saints Christmas dinner and asked him what he was up to.

"Stu hasn't played for two years because of injury and there's no way you could take a chance on him without knowing if his knee was 100 per cent."

Blankley knows Hussey well from his days managing Bashley and said: "There's certainly no doubting his ability. I've always been a big fan of Stuart's.

"I've told him if he wants to train and get himself fit, then I'm happy to have a look at him when he feels ready."

Blankley is about to jet off for a family Christmas in America, leaving reserve boss Mitch Blake in charge for the festive programme, starting at home to Staines Town tomorrow.

Unfortunately, it's an awkward time to go, with Whites stuttering fifth to bottom of the Ryman Premier Division following last Saturday's 3-1 reverse at Folkestone Invicta.

Blankley would like to have left them with the gift of a Christmas signing or two but said: "I've been speaking to players from higher leagues, but when they tell me what they earn I have to check if they mean for a month or a week - and, unfortunately, they mean a week!"

Experienced defender Andy Cook should return from hamstring trouble tomorrow and midfielder Glenn Howes is fast approaching fitness having come through another reserve team run-out.

l Second-placed Eastleigh hope to welcome back midfielder Martin Thomas for their trip to Hampton & Richmond Borough.

The ex-Saint has been sidelined since last month with a calf injury which needed intensive physiotherapy to remove old scar tissue.

Danny Rofe (hamstring) and Nicky Banger (ankle) are still out along with the fleet-footed Martin Beck who damaged ankle and knee ligaments in what Doswell described as a "kamikaze tackle" against Heybridge.

"We had little sympathy for him because it was his own fault," said Doswell. "But it's a shame because Martin has to work hard to get into the side and every time he gets into to some sort of form he goes and gets an injury."