Callum carries on in Eastleigh engine room

By Wendy Gee -    

 

EX-SAINT Callum McNish is likely to retain his place in Eastleigh's midfield engine room for tomorrow's home game against Weston-super-Mare.

The 20-year-old, signed on an initial month's loan from Braintree last week, replaced Glen Southam in the starting line-up against Basingstoke on Tuesday.

It followed a 20-minute debut off the bench last Saturday with the Spitfires already 3-0 down in their disastrous opener at Boreham Wood.

Saints Academy graduate McNish put in a good shift on Tuesday, contributing to a much improved Eastleigh performance by Eastleigh who felt unlucky to be pegged back for a 1-1 draw.

Having taken a first-half lead through Craig McAllister, they had a contentious free-kick awarded against them which Matt Warner spectacularly fired home in the 73rd minute.

Explaining his reasons for picking Oxford-based McNish ahead of Southam, Baird said: "We lost the game in that area on Saturday and I felt we needed a shake-up.

"We knew what Basingstoke were all about, very competitive, and I didn't think we dealt with that situation very well at Boreham Wood.

"Callum played well on Tuesday and it's up to him to keep playing well and we'll review his situation,"

Having made his full Saints debut in a 3-2 win over Carlisle United in April 2010, McNish signed for Exeter City in July 2011.

But the six-footer struggled to break into Paul Tisdale's starting line-up and was released by The Grecians in May.

He joined Blue Square Bet Premier outfit Braintree in early July, signing a one-year deal, and featured in pre-season. But just like Eastleigh's summer signing Jai Reason, he was not happy with where Iron boss Alan Devonshire was asking him to play.

"Braintree brought Callum in as a central midfielder, but they were playing him on the right of a midfield four and he didn't like that," said Baird.

"They decided to cut their losses and make him available for loan.

"I think there was a disagreement about his best position, but as far as I'm concerned it's central midfield.

"I honestly don't know what Callum's future is, but he's not on Braintree's first-team list at the moment and he's got an opportunity to play for us. He got better as the game went on the other night."

Mark Hughes, the man Baird had hoped would keep an iron grip on Eastleigh's midfield, could be out for another month with a broken metatarsal.

Striker Lee Peacock was last night waiting on results of an X-ray on a potential broken bone below his big toe and defender Osei Sankofa needs a couple of reserve games to sharpen up after sitting out pre-season injured.

Andy Forbes and McAllister are nursing knocks after the Basingstoke game, but centre-back Gary Elphick is back available after a spell out with cracked ribs.

Tomorrow's visitors Weston have also picked up just one point from two games, drawing 1-1 with Hayes & Yeading before slipping up 2-1 at Farnborough in midweek.

But, unlike big-spending Eastleigh, the Seagulls do not have a '4/1 title favourites' tag hanging heavily round their necks.

"I'm expecting a hard game tomorrow," said Baird. "As I've said from the very start, every side we play will raise their game because of the publicity surrounding us. It's a different fixture to most clubs."

On Monday (3pm) the Spitfires visit Baird's old club Havant & Waterlooville who have kicked off the season with two draws - against Chelmsford and Truro - under new boss Stuart Ritchie.