PROLIFIC marksman Andy Forbes could be heading for an operation - just days after penning a four-year deal with Ryman Premier new boys Eastleigh.

Forbes's incredible 76-goal tally for Winchester City last season was achieved despite a nagging calf problem which virtually ruled headers out of his scoring repertoire towards the end of the campaign.

Now, having invested an undisclosed five-figure fee on the FA Vase-winning hotshot, Eastleigh boss Paul Doswell wants the problem sorted once and for all.

Forbes, who suffers from severe cramp, is due to have cortisone injections in both legs this week followed by plenty of massage and a course of pilates to build strength and flexibility.

Doswell was fully aware of Forbes's problem before signing him and believes that, just like fellow Eastleigh striker Paul Sales, the 25-year-old can be cured with some good physio and fitness treatment - plus a lot of self-help.

But if there is no improvement after the first two or three weeks of the season, he will have keyhole surgery which will rule him out of action for up to a month.

Forbes, pictured, played a part in both Eastleigh's weekend friendlies, against Weymouth and an ex-Saints XI, and is likely to be named on the bench for Saturday's opening league fixture at Tonbridge Angels.

Doswell explained: "The cramp affects his jumping as opposed to his running and we think he may have some hardened tissue in there which hasn't shown up on scans.

"He's very inflexible and, when he tries to leap, he gets this incredible tightness in his calves which stops him being everything he wants to be as a player.

"By his own admission, he was only 60 per cent right from Christmas onwards - and he still got 76 goals! I'm licking my lips at the thought of how good he'll be when he's 100 per cent.

"He'll have regular physio at Therapeutics for a couple of weeks and play 15 or 20 minutes here or there. If he's still complaining that he can't jump after that, he may need a little operation."

Meanwhile, Forbes's former Winchester teammate, Danny Smith, has recovered from an ankle tweak. The tenacious midfielder played in both weekend friendlies and is in contention for a starting place at Tonbridge.

Ryman Division 1 outfit Bashley were yesterday setting the seal on another month's loan of Forest Green Rovers midfielder/striker Adie Adams.

The 20-year-old former England under-18 schoolboy became a popular figure at the Recreation Ground last season, scoring twice in six loan appearances for the New Forest club.

New Bash boss Geoff Butler got his first look at Adams in Sunday's 6-2 friendly defeat by Havant & Waterlooville and said: "It was difficult to make an impression in that game because we were a few first-team players short, but he looked okay. He's got a bit of pace about him and a nice footballing brain. Ricky (assistant manager Ricky Haysom) rates him highly."