EASTLEIGH'S newly appointed team boss David Hughes will again have to settle for a seat in the dugout for tomorrow's eagerly-awaited friendly against his old club Saints (3pm).

The 34-year-old midfielder, who has stacked up a catalogue of injuries over the years, is recovering from an operation to cure nose and sinus trouble dating back to a collision last summer.

Having broken his nose at Dorchester last August, he smashed it again at Fisher the following week and developed breathing problems and headaches towards the end of last season.

Following a series of scans, surgeons re-broke his nose and straightened it, freeing up the airways and sinuses.

Although he has been training with his new charges, Hughes can't risk playing for the time being, but is hopeful he will be back in action for the start of the Blue Square Conference South campaign.

He reported: "I can train and run but I can't do any contact stuff at the moment. I daren't risk getting hit in the face by the ball.

"I'm going back to see the surgeon at the end of the month and hopefully I'll get the green light".

Full story and Eastleigh v Saints previews in today's Daily Echo.