Allan Tait has answered an SOS from Eastbourne Borough after the club decided against reinforcing their injury-ravaged squad on the eve of their most gruelling period of the season.

The striker looked to have played his last game for Borough when he was sent out on loan to Basingstoke in December soon after being dropped following a training ground bust-up with boss Garry Wilson.

Tait’s spell at Basingstoke came to an end last week but he was expected to go out on loan to another club for the rest of the season.

However, injuries to strikers Andy Atkin and Nathan Crabb together with Matt Smart, Matt Crabb and Danny Brown mean he could be back in the squad for tomorrow’s trip to Salisbury City.

Borough did consider bringing in reinforcements before the transfer deadline yesterday but chose to conserve their resources and give Tait another chance instead.

The 27-year-old played for the reserves against Croydon Athletic on Wednesday and is likely to play some part as Borough face five games in the space of ten days.

After tomorrow’s trip to the Raymond McEnhill Stadium they host Crawley on Tuesday, Ebbsfleet on Thursday and Weymouth on Saturday before travelling to Altrincham the following Tuesday.

Greenwood said: “Allan came back after his maximum 93 days at Basingstoke and with the injuries we have picked up we asked him to stay until the end of the season.

“He comes into the equation for selection like everybody else now and we know if he is called on we have got an experienced player who has a proven record at this level.

“We could have brought somebody in on loan but if you do that you sometimes don’t know exactly what you are getting but Allan has been with us for a few years.

“Also the committee were not keen to spend a chunk of money on a loan player when we are already safe.”

Tait started the season as first choice strike partner for Atkin but managed just two goals in 19 league and cup games.

He came in for criticism from a section of the Priory Lane crowd and his frustration at being substituted on a regular basis boiled over when he clashed with Wilson.

The former Crawley striker also endured a barren spell at the Camrose as he failed to score in 14 games in Blue Square south and was dropped to the bench for the final two matches of his loan spell.

Greenwood added: “We know Allan can score goals. He didn’t score for Basingstoke but from what we have heard his level of performance was very high.

“He was in a similar situation last year when he missed a large part of the season through injury but returned right at the end to score some crucial goals so hopefully he can contribute again.”

Borough’s plans for tomorrow’s game were thrown in to disarray by the bruising encounter with Sidley United in the Sussex Senior Cup on Monday night.

Goalkeeper Lee Hook dislocated a finger but is expected to be fit for the trip to Wiltshire but Matt and Nathan Crabb, Brown and Smart are all struggling.

An X-ray on Smart’s shin has shown no fracture but he is extremely unlikely to play while Matt Crabb is doubtful with a dead leg and Nathan Crabb has a back problem which could rule him out.

Brown is expected to recover from a neck injury but Atkin is due to have a scan on his groin today and could miss the next five games.

Salisbury have brought in reinforcements since drawing 0-0 at Priory Lane two weeks ago.

Former Bognor skipper Sam Pearce made his debut in the 1-0 victory over Ebbsfleet on Tuesday which stretched their unbeaten run to nine games. They also brought in brothers Ben and Toby Osman – who are the sons of former England international Russell Osman – from Exeter City before the transfer deadline yesterday.

Salisbury: Bittner, Bass, Brough, Pearce, Ruddick, Clohessy, Herring, Dutton, Clarke, Webb, Griffin. Subs from: Porter, Widdrington, Cox, Martin, Davies, B Osman, T Osman.

Eastbourne: Hook, Austin, Baker, Pullan, Jenkins, Lovett, Armstrong, Brown, Wormull, M Crabb, Gargan. Subs from: Jeffery, N Crabb, Harding, Mingle, Tait, Jordan, Douglas, Johnson.

Follow Borough LIVE tomorrow at Salisbury at theargus.co.uk/livereports