EASTLEIGH have a new, young face in the camp for the Vanarama National League run-in.

On-loan Swansea City midfielder Tom Holland has returned to his parent club without kicking a ball.

That spare place has been filled by former Portsmouth academy prospect James Granger, a 19-year-old central midfielder who has been training with the squad for the last month.

He joins an Eastleigh side whose play-off destiny hinges on the last nine games of a rollercoaster campaign – starting at home to struggling Welling United tomorrow (Good Friday, 3pm).

Manager Chris Todd explained: “The Swansea lad's gone back because he wanted to play, which is understandable, but I couldn’t offer him that.

“Tom's a good, young prospect who trained hard and was great to have around the place. I thank Swansea for letting us have him.

“I tried to get him minutes, but we've had some close games and I didn’t want to upset things.

“James Granger's come in and he’s also dual-signed for Poole Town.

“He’s a big lad, which is a bonus, and a great talent in central midfield. He’s trained well and he’s an extra body for us.”

Eastleigh are still without suspended pair Ben Strevens and Paul Reid to face second-to-bottom Welling, whose 22-match winless league run stretches back to October.

Jamie Turley is not quite fully over the hip injury that forced him off at half-time against Bromley, but he is available for selection tomorrow.

So too is fellow centre-back Will Evans who twisted an ankle in the closing minutes of that 2-0 Bromley win – the Spitfires' third home victory in the space of eight glorious days.

A lull of nine days without a game has left eighth-placed Eastleigh three points off play-off pace, but they are fully rested and ready for an Easter double header which takes Todd back to his old club Torquay United on Monday (3pm).

Like Welling, the Gulls are scrapping for survival, making them potentially dangerous opponents.

“It’s never easy against sides who are fighting for their lives. There’s a lot at stake for them and us,” said Todd.

“We’ve got no god-given right to beat anyone unless we perform. You have to dig in to win matches whoever you’re playing.

“But we’ve trained really hard and had a bit of rest as well. We’re a good team who are working hard and we’ve got to be confident.”