SOLENT Stars could have a new face in their line-up as they hit the road in search of their first National Trophy win at London United today and Worthing Thunder tomorrow.

American Dominique Jones has agreed to join the club and, all being well, he will have touched down on English soil and had a work permit granted in time for the weekend's double header.

Accommodation has been sorted for the 25-year-old from Toledo, who carries some impressive statistics in his luggage.

He established himself as the third all-time leading scorer for Ohio University Eastern, having bagged 1,763 points during his three seasons there.

Jones's arrival comes as a timely boost for an inexperienced, young Solent side who have lost all six Trophy matches to date.

However, there are steady signs of improvement and Stars far from disgraced themselves in last week's 99-60 National Cup defeat by Basketball League outfit Brighton Bears.

Coach Mark Scott is not expecting instant miracles from the American. He has stressed that Jones will need to fit in with the existing squad before he can make a huge difference and Stars may even consider another overseas signing before the National Conference League season starts next month.

The club, meanwhile, have responded to comments from their youth team coach Jimmie Guymon, who believes extra training is the only cure for the senior side's ills.

A club spokesman explained: "Whilst agreeing with Jimmie that it would benefit the players to train more, the club faces several obstacles.

"The most obvious is the cost and availability of training venues. Currently one of its sessions is from nine to 11 at night because no earlier time is available at Fleming Park.

"Had the under-20 programme been in force this year, it was hoped that some of the younger players would have joined them to train.

"Coach Scott gives each of his players personal training programmes to supplement the team training times and is looking for an improvement in time for the start of the Conference season."

Solent will have to put the brakes on London's Pete Deppish if they are to get any joy at Brunel University tonight (6pm). The ex-BBL player plundered 26 points when United triumphed 98-79 at Fleming Park in September. The Londoners have been beaten twice since, the second defeat coming last Saturday when they came from 15 points down to lose by only two against Worthing.

Despite last Saturday's scare, unbeaten Thunder boast an impressive 5-0 record and will be expecting to extend that against Solent at the Worthing Leisure Centre tomorrow (4pm). Along with the familiar names in their line-up like Marvin Addy, James Braime and Gaylon Moore, they have just signed a new American, Lavoris Jerry.

Nick O'Harabe, who left Solent for Worthing during the summer, is awaiting a knee injury and unlikely to play.