NEW Milton Town boss Andy Bye has backed new signing Danny Cox to help fire his side up the Sydenhams Wessex League Premier Division table.

The 17-year-old frontman, yet to make a starting appearance for Linnets since his loan arrival from AFC Totton last week, has impressed Bye in training, but faces stiff competition for a starting berth at Fawcett's Field with the likes of Rob Woolner, Callum Burt and Dominic Allen all scoring freely in recent weeks.

But Bye believes the highly-rated Cox can offer something different, as Linnets look to put last season's relegation dog-fight firmly out of their minds.

Bye, whose side host high-flying VT FC tomorrow in the league (3pm), said: "He's a young lad. We played Totton in pre-season and I was talking to Stuart (Ritchie, Totton manager) who said they had this forward.

"He did say that if they hadn't won the Wessex League and gone up, he would have kept him in his first-team squad.

"But I think it was a bit too much to expect him to get a game in the Southern League, so they were quite happy to give him to us for the rest of the season.

"He's got a bit of competition for a place, but when you look at his goalscoring record as a youngster in youth and reserve football, you can see he is someone who can stick the ball in the net.

"That's what we are looking at and Stuart is certainly impressed with him. He's got a bit about him and he's looked confident in his sub appearances."

Keeper Tom Clifton-Moore returns to the squad after misssing the 2-1 midweek defeat to Brockenhurst.

New Milton: (from) Anderson, Wood, Pidgley, Clarke, Grace, Burt, Byers, Allen, Woolner, Holland, Kenna, K Chengadu, Coleman, Ewen, Cox, Sampays, Clifton-Moore.

  • BELEAGUERED Poppies will be looking to bounce back from their demoralising 2-1 defeat to Lymington Town in midweek when they host Cowes Sports tomorrow (3pm).

Kenny Vaughan is hoping to bolster his squad with another striker ahead of tomorrow's clash at Victoria Park.

Liam McGlynn is suspended, but Vaughan should have Fawzi Saadi (thigh) back. Joe Beckett has resigned for the club and should also be in contention tomorrow.

Poppies: (from) Vaughan, Blake, S Langrish, M Toy, Neville, McGrath, Jones, Hall, Batchelor, Webb, Balinski, Beckett, Saadi, Wrixton, Geary, Bessalem.

  • GRAHAM Kemp takes an unchanged squad to Moneyfields in the league tomorrow (3pm), while Wimborne travel to Alresford (3pm).

Christchurch: (from) Kearn, Dand, Taylor, Linpow, Dillon, Keates, Lawrence, Smith, Burden, Cook, Osborne, Burrows, Green, Rideout, Barnes, Brock.

Wimborne: (from) Walker-Harris, Arnold, Whitcher, Percival, Phillpson-Masters, Roast, Haysom, James, Stokoe, Joyce, Town, Gibbons, Smith, Cann, Hall, Lawrence.

  • IN Wessex Division One, Ringwood Town host Stockbridge (3pm) buoyed by the 8-0 midweek thumping of East Cowes Victoria.