Allan Tait has been handed an unexpected chance to salvage his Priory Lane future after Eastbourne Borough missed out on signing Matt Tubbs.

Borough had hoped to boost their firepower by bringing in the Salisbury striker on loan ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Rushden and Diamonds.

Boss Garry Wilson and assistant Nick Greenwood swooped for Tubbs after Borough failed to find the net in their last three games but the 24-year-old decided to join Bournemouth instead.

The failure to bring in a new forward coupled with a groin injury which has ruled out Nathan Crabb means Tait is back in the squad for tomorrow’s trip to Nene Park.

The former Crawley striker looked to have played his last game for Borough when he was transfer listed following a training ground bust up.

He was left out of the squad for the last two games but has now been challenged to prove the club cannot afford to let him go.

Greenwood said: “We were very close to signing Matt but it didn’t happen and that gives Allan a chance.

“He is still officially on the transfer list but I don’t think he wants to go anywhere so what happens in the long term is down to Garry and I.

“We’ve had quite a few offers for him but the situation is that no one is going anywhere unless we bring someone in first.

“The argument was just one of those silly things that always happens in training from time to time at every club. It was at the end of a training session, everybody was tired after working all day and somebody said something they probably shouldn’t.

“I think it stemmed from frustration because if Allan had been playing every week and banging in the goals then their probably wouldn’t have been a problem.

“But both sides said what they had to say at the time, we’ve had a cooling off period now and it’s time to move on. Allan is a contracted player and we need him to play and he is more than happy to do so.”

With Nathan Crabb sidelined it means Tait could go straight back into the starting line-up alongside Andy Atkin unless Lyle Taylor gets the nod ahead of him.

Crabb’s injury also increases the urgency for Borough to bring in a new striker but Greenwood admits that is proving difficult.

He added: “We have been so close on a number of occasions. Agreements have been made and the player has picked up an injury just as he is going in to sign the forms or something else has happened to mess things up.

“We’ve still got a few irons in the fire though so hopefully we’ll add a few new faces in the next week.”

Skipper Paul Armstrong is still out with an injured ankle but is expected to return to light training next week while Rushden captain Andy Burgess serves a one-match ban. Part-time boxer Curtis Woodhouse, who scored the only goal at Priory Lane on the opening day of the season, is unavailable as he is due to return to the ring next week.

Meanwhile, Borough defender Andy Ballard, who had been on loan with Hastings United this season, has rejoined former club Oxford City.

PROBABLE TEAMS Rushden: Roberts, Moloney, Osana, Hope, Jelleyman, Wolleaston, Corcoran, Boden, Kelly, Clare, Rankin. Subs: Day, Phillips, Fortune, Tomlin, Beecroft.

Eastbourne: Hook, Austin, Baker, Pullan, Jenkins, Harding, Smart, Brown, M Crabb, Atkin, Tait. Subs: Winterton, Lovett, Wormull, Taylor, Budd.

Follow Borough live tomorrow against Rushden at theargus.co.uk/matchday live