HE may not be in Matthew Le Tissier's class, but AFC Totton are relieved to have landed Ben Thomson in time for tomorrow night's big Jewson Wessex League summit meeting at Eastleigh.

While the big-spending Ten Acres hosts are ready to wheel in Le God for his JWL debut, Totton boss Ian Robinson has helped ease his injury crisis by signing Ashurst lad Thomson for an undisclosed fee from Bashley.

Like Le Tiss, Thomson is something of a free spirit and can operate effectively either up front, in midfield or out wide.

Robinson has a left-sided role in mind for the 25-year-old former Hounsdown Schoolboy who, two years ago, impressed in trials for AFC Bournemouth while knocking in goals right, left and centre for Brockenhurst.

Conference outfit Farnborough were also among his admirers, but Thomson ended up on the Southern League circuit playing for Bashley and then Newport IoW.

Neither club brought the best out of him and, having returned to Bash during the summer, he struggled to pin down a regular first-team place.

Robinson said: "I can only relate to what I saw of Ben when he was playing for Brockenhurst, but he was head and shoulders above anything else in the Wessex League.

"I think he went to a higher level too early and has lost some of his appetite for the game, but if we can rekindle his enthusiasm then we'd love to be the shop window for him if he wants to move up again."

Totton have also signed right-sided player Chris Marwood from Brockenhurst, but he is unavailable tomorrow because of university commitments in London.

Glen Maidment has climbed aboard from BAT and Robinson is still trying to bring Eastleigh's out-of-favour defender Darren Curtis back to Testwood Park.

Of Totton's walking wounded, only Matt Parnell has a chance of returning tomorrow night. Dylan Pearson, Stuart Ritchie, Scott Bundy and Ross Thurston are all still sidelined having missed Saturday's disappointing 5-1 FA Vase exit at St Blazey.