EASTLEIGH’S Blue Square South promotion hopes have been dealt a massive new year hammer blow by the loss of star striker Andy Forbes to a ruptured Achilles tendon.

The 29-year-old marksman, who scored his 131st goal in 234 Spitfires appearances to seal the New Year’s Day win over Basingstoke, is feared to be out for between six and eight months.

With Eastleigh’s game at Fisher frozen off on Saturday, Forbes ironically sustained the injury while exercising to keep himself fit.

He had his lower leg plastered at Reading Hospital and is due to see a specialist to decide whether he needs an operation.

It caps a miserable campaign for the 2004 Non-League player-of-the-year, who had only recently achieved full fitness after missing the first chunk of the season following a summer hernia operation and follow-up surgery on a stomach abscess.

His value to Eastleigh was underlined recently when he filled in effortlessly as an emergency centre-back to cover for injuries and suspensions.

“This is a devastating blow both for Andy Forbes and for Eastleigh FC and he’ll be sadly missed,” said director of football David Malone.

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