INJURIES are threatening to seriously undermine Eastleigh’s push for the Blue Square South play-offs.

As if the two points dropped in Saturday's 2-2 draw at basement side Weston-super-Mare was not costly enough, the Spitfires added THREE more names to their long-term injury list.

Shaun McAuley went to hospital on Saturday night after going over on his ankle.

Tony Taggart limped off with a torn hamstring less than two minutes after replacing fellow wideman McAuley.

Staforde Palmer was caught by a block tackle in the area as he set up Andy Forbes for Eastleigh’s second goal. At best the on-loan Hayes & Yeading striker has medial ligament problems and, at worst, cruciate liga- ment damage. Thankfully Eastleigh have no midweek match, giving Baird and the board of directors time to contemplate how deal with the latest injury crisis ahead of Saturday’s visit of Thurrock.

With Brett Poate (back) and Jamie Brown (knee) also crocked, they now have five long-term casualites, while Anthony Riviere (groin) is far from 100 per cent fit.

“I spoke to (director of football) Dave Malone yesterday and, as always, he was very supportive,” said manager Ian Baird.

“He was going to email the other directors to see what can be done.”