Watts out for the season
- Watts Blow for EastleighTHE injury news just keeps getting grimmer for Blue Square South outfit Eastleigh.
The latest bombshell dropped on Ian Baird's side is that frontman Steve Watts has been ruled out for the rest of the season with knee damage.
It's been one problem after another for the former Leyton Orient striker. Having had a lengthy spell out following a cartilage operation in August, he had to have a cyst removed from behind the same knee.
He marked his comeback by going on as a substitute and scoring against Forest Green Rovers in the FA Cup late last month but has been struggling on the sidelines ever since.
"No one's been able to diagnose what's wrong with the knee, but it turns out I've got a hole in it and I've got to have microfracture surgery in two weeks' time," he revealed.
Such surgery helps restore knee cartilage by creating tiny fractures in the adjacent bones, causing new cartilage to develop.
"I'm devastated," said Watts, who joined Eastleigh from Bromley in January this year and travels down from his home in Peckham, South London.
He is only under contract until the end of this season, but said: "I love it at Eastleigh and I can't wait to try and get back into the squad next season."
With fellow frontman Paul Sales also out long-term with a hernia, the Spitfires are today due to complete the signing of striker/attacking midfielder Ashan Holgate from Weston-Super-Mare pending a medical.
Having had their fingers burned two summers ago when they signed Justin Bennett from Andover only to lose him for the entire season with knee trouble, Eastleigh are determined not to get caught out again.
"Every player we sign from now on is subject to a medical," confirmed boss Baird.
Towering centre-back Karim El Salahi is also back in the wars. Having bravely played on with a sore groin, the former Woking defender has now pulled his hamstring.
Eastleigh, meanwhile, have landed a chance to succeed where Baird's old club Havant & Waterlooville failed in the FA Trophy first round proper.
The Spitfires have been drawn at home to Blue Square South rivals Bognor Regis Town, who beat the Hawks 2-1 at Nyewood Lane on Saturday.
On paper, it is one of the better ties Eastleigh could have hoped for with the Rocks down in 19th in the league, but Baird is taking nothing for granted.
"It's a home draw, which is the most important thing, and it's a winnable game, but we know Bognor are very dangerous," he warned.
"Since Jack Pearce stepped down as manager their results seem to have picked up. We won't be taking them lightly whatsoever."
"No one's been able to diagnose what's wrong with the knee, but it turns out I've got a hole in it and I've got to have microfracture surgery in two weeks' time," he revealed.
Such surgery helps restore knee cartilage by creating tiny fractures in the adjacent bones, causing new cartilage to develop.
"I'm devastated," said Watts, who joined Eastleigh from Bromley in January this year and travels down from his home in Peckham, South London.
He is only under contract until the end of this season, but said: "I love it at Eastleigh and I can't wait to try and get back into the squad next season."
With fellow frontman Paul Sales also out long-term with a hernia, the Spitfires are today due to complete the signing of striker/attacking midfielder Ashan Holgate from Weston-Super-Mare pending a medical.
Having had their fingers burned two summers ago when they signed Justin Bennett from Andover only to lose him for the entire season with knee trouble, Eastleigh are determined not to get caught out again.
"Every player we sign from now on is subject to a medical," confirmed boss Baird.
Towering centre-back Karim El Salahi is also back in the wars. Having bravely played on with a sore groin, the former Woking defender has now pulled his hamstring.
Eastleigh, meanwhile, have landed a chance to succeed where Baird's old club Havant & Waterlooville failed in the FA Trophy first round proper.
The Spitfires have been drawn at home to Blue Square South rivals Bognor Regis Town, who beat the Hawks 2-1 at Nyewood Lane on Saturday.
On paper, it is one of the better ties Eastleigh could have hoped for with the Rocks down in 19th in the league, but Baird is taking nothing for granted.
"It's a home draw, which is the most important thing, and it's a winnable game, but we know Bognor are very dangerous," he warned.
"Since Jack Pearce stepped down as manager their results seem to have picked up. We won't be taking them lightly whatsoever."
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