BOSS Tom Killick reckons Poole Town would be at least halfway up the National South table if they had brought in "revelation" James Constable last summer.

The relegation-threatened Dolphins swooped for Constable on a one-month loan at the end of February, later extending the Eastleigh striker's stay until the end of the season.

A scorer of more than 50 Football League goals and capped three times by England C, Constable has registered one goal in five league appearances for Poole.

That effort came in the 2-2 draw at East Thurrock United 12 days ago when the former Walsall frontman was red carded after the final whistle.

An appeal to the Football Association failed and the 33-year-old will be absent for Poole's crucial trip to fellow strugglers Hungerford Town tomorrow (3pm).

And with Dolphins still coming to terms with that body blow, Killick insisted his team's campaign would have turned out differently had Constable joined sooner.

Killick told the Daily Echo: "James has been a revelation since he arrived. This is no slight on any of our other players but if we'd had James from the start of the season, we'd be halfway up the league as a minimum.

"I didn't think he would be a player I would ever have the opportunity to sign. It just so happened that Eastleigh were looking to get him out to play some games and he lives in Ringwood, has a young family and wanted to play locally.

"I couldn't believe my luck when we got him and he has been everything I hoped he would and more.

"Not only is he such a good player but considering what he is used to in football in terms of the infrastructure his clubs have had, to have the attitude he has had in playing for us has been a revelation.

"My players pick up on that. As soon as you get a loan player in, they are under a bit of scrutiny from the other players in terms of how they are going to be and whether they are really going to buy into the cause.

"James has been brilliant and the other players have really taken to him. We have signed an exceptional footballer and an exceptional character and that has been a big boost for us.

"We have him until the end of the season but we need him to be available for our games."

Malmesbury-born Constable progressed through the ranks at Cirencester Town before catching the eye during a fruitful spell in the Southern League with Chippenham Town.

He attracted interest from a host of Football League clubs before eventually signing on loan for League One outfit Walsall in November 2005, the deal becoming permanent for a fee of £4,000.

Constable had spells at Kidderminster Harriers and Shrewsbury Town before netting a hatful of goals for Oxford United, including one in their Conference play-off final victory over York City in 2010.