STEVEN KING has revealed reinforcements are unlikely as Whitehawk begin a busy holiday schedule.

But the Hawks boss will be boosted by the return of three players from injury.

And he could give a debut to a former Atletico Madrid youngster whose international clearance has finally come through.

Whitehawk need to get their Vanarama National League south promotion bid back on track after taking just four points from a possible 12 in the last four games.

The distraction of a run to the second round of the FA Cup coupled with injuries to an already small squad has caused a minor derailment to the club’s main aim for the season.

King has been trying to bring in additions but now says that is unlikely to happen ahead of the Boxing Day trip to Eastbourne Borough, the visit of leaders Ebbsfleet United on Monday and then the return clash with Sussex rivals Borough on Saturday January 2.

Hawks lost 1-0 at home to Dartford last Saturday, just three days after taking League Two Dagenham and Redbridge to extra time in a 3-2 second round replay defeat.

King said: “Last Saturday was the worst performance since I have been at the club.

“The players had put so much into the FA Cup game and we only have a little squad. With the injuries and asking them to play so many games, it took its toll. They are not machines.

“I want to improve the squad but there isn’t any room to do that at the moment.”

The good news for King is that Paul Lorraine, Dean Leacock and Dave Martin should all be fit to play in the holiday matches after limping off against Dagenham and missing the Dartford match.

Lorraine, who only recently returned after more than a year out with a knee injury, was suffering from a fatigue-related hamstring injury.

Fellow centre-back Leacock was sidelined with a glute muscle injury and former Millwall winger Martin was out with a dead leg.

In their absence King included on the bench Spanish striker Daniel Suarez Moreno, who has been training with the club while he awaits international clearance.

That has now come through for a player who began with Atletico Madrid and has been playing third tier football in his homeland. He did not get on against Dartford but could feature in the next three games.

Contracted French midfielder Stephane Ngamvoulou remains part of the squad despite being made available on a free transfer.

Hednesford Town, who play in National League north and are managed by former Chelsea defender Frank Sinclair, enquired about taking Ngamvoulou on loan but that move seems unlikely.

Belgian left-back Bryan van den Bogaert, who was out for a month with a hamstring injury, was an unused substitute in the Dagenham replay but was left out last Saturday. He remains signed to the club but is not currently in King’s plans.

King would like to sign on a permanent basis loan left-back Craig Braham-Barrett whose current deal runs out in January. That will depend on parent club Ebbsfleet United’s thoughts on his future.

Braham-Barrett will not be allowed to play against Ebbsfleet on Monday.

King is expected a tough three games ahead, particularly as striker Jake Robinson will miss the home match with Eastbourne Borough due to a one-match ban.

He said: “It is a tough set of fixtures for us. In derby games there is nothing in it – league form goes out of the window.

“I have seen Eastbourne a couple of times this year and they have done well. Against the better teams they seem to do all right.

“It will be a local derby and a tough battle but they have a decent pitch which will help us as we can get back to passing the ball.

“Ebbsfleet are top of the league but we had a fantastic game with them earlier in the season. We were 2-0 up, missed a penalty and totally dominated the first half but they dominated the second half.”