EASTLEIGH striker James Constable has joined National League South strugglers Poole Town on an initial month’s deal.

He is one of two Spitfires players to have to headed out on loan, with fit-again, young goalkeeper Mark Childs returning for a second spell at Gosport Borough.

Constable has featured 25 times for Eastleigh so far this season and has joined Poole with a view to gaining more game time.

Dolphins boss Tom Killick believes his experience could be a “big step forward” in his side’s quest to beat the drop.

Formerly of Oxford United, Walsall, Shrewsbury Town and Kidderminster Harriers, Constable is set to go straight into the Poole squad for tomorrow's trip to Braintree Town.

A scorer of more than 50 Football League goals, Constable has found the net 41 times for the Spitfires in 159 appearances.

Killick said: “I felt it was important we added at this stage. It is now or never for us and I was looking to improve the squad.

“We have been lucky to bring in young, inexperienced loan players who have done quite well but I thought it important to try to bring experience to the squad.

“James has played predominantly at a higher level and has a wealth of experience in League and non-League football.

“We felt in the situation we are in, it could be a big step forward for us.

“He was a player I had been aware of for quite a while and it was something which had been talked about previously.

“We managed to get it sorted and we are grateful to Eastleigh. Hopefully, he can make an immediate impact.”

Poole are 20th in the league, four points from safety.

Ex-Alresford and Winchester striker Warren Bentley has hit 16 of Dolphins’ 36 league goals this season, but Killick believes Constable's arrival brings added variety.

“It gives us options and strength in depth in attacking areas at a vital time,” he added.

“You can never have too much firepower and now we have Ollie Balmer, Warren Bentley, Richard Gillespie and James Constable, they are four exceptionally talented forwards and are all a bit different.”

Eastleigh goalkeeper Childs has joined Evo-Stik South Premier basement boys Gsport on a one-month loan deal.

Childs made his Spitfires debut in front of the BT Sport cameras at home to Boreham Wood last season before joining Gosport a month later.

While out on loan, he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury which kept him out of action until the Spitfires’ 2-0 Hampshire FA Senior Cup defeat to AFC Bournemouth last month.

Childs joins fellow Spitfires loanees Ollie Dennett and Harvey Read at Gosport where another ex-Eastleigh man, Craig McAllister, is player-coach.