BOURNEMOUTH Poppies boss Kenny Vaughan is confident he has found a diamond in the rough after plucking striker Ed Ewens from amateur football.

Ewens, who banged in 30 goals in the Bournemouth Hayward Saturday League last season, bagged a hat-trick in Poppies’ final pre-season match – a 5-2 win at Swanage on Tuesday. 

And Vaughan is likely to throw him at the deep end in tonight’s Sydenhams Wessex League opener at Fawley (7.45pm).

Vaughan told the Daily Echo: “He took his goals really well and we are really pleased with him, we just need to get him fit for this level of football.

“He put himself about and got in some good positions so the first signs are good.”

Ex-New Milton duo Rob Teppett and Manny Ohameje are joined by former Christchurch defender Chris Speers among the new faces at Victoria Park but Vaughan is happy to play the waiting game when it comes to further recruits.

“It’s all quite open at the moment,” he added.

“I have a few more players in mind that I would like to sign and once the season gets going, we may be able to pick up one or two that have signed elsewhere but haven’t managed to get in the team.

“We would like to be mid-table with a view to pushing further up the league but our first target is to improve on last season.”