Former Albion goalkeeper Ross Flitney makes his Whitehawk debut today – with a vote of trust from his manager.

Flitney has linked up again with his former Eastleigh boss Richard Hill and gets his first start at Bishop’s Stortford.

Lucas Covolan, one of two foreign goalkeepers already on contract at the Enclosed Ground, has moved to Lewes on loan.

Adri Munoz loses his starting spot to Flitney, who had three games on loan to the Seagulls as a teenager almost 13 years ago but is perhaps more renowned for his exploits in non-league.

Hill rated him as the best goalkeeper outside the top four divisions, along with Barnet’s Graham Stack, when they were part of Eastleigh’s rise to Conference national.

He said: “Ross will be reliable for us. I know what to expect. He can communicate with his back four. He has just turned 32. He is still in his prime.

“Yes, he will make mistakes. All players do. But, over a season, he will win us football matches.”

Brazilian keeper Covolan and his Catalan colleague Munoz have impressed Hawks fans at times this season.

Hill said: “Even though we have two keepers who have done a good job, I couldn’t miss out on an opportunity to bring Ross here.”

Flitney was brought in on loan from Fulham’s reserves by Albion boss Mark McGhee when he was missing both Ben Roberts and Michel Kuipers during the 2003-04 promotion campaign.

He kept clean sheets in wins over Cheltenham and Tony Adams’ Wycombe, both at Withdean, and then played in a 2-1 defeat at Swindon.

There also had a small niche for him in the Seagulls history when he played in the first floodlit game at the Amex, for a Gillingham side beaten 1-0 in the first round of the League Cup in 2011-12.

Flitney played the first nine games of the season for Eastleigh, taking his total of appearances to 93.

He featured in last season’s high-profile FA Cup run, including both games against Bolton in the third round.

But he was allowed to leave by mutual consent recently after losing his spot to Ryan Clarke, who was signed from AFC Wimbledon.

Meanwhile Hawks are hopeful of keeping loan duo Jack Masterton and Tony Lee when their loan deals expire after today’s game.

Talks are progressing with a view to two-month extensions for both players.