Halstead Town manager Mark Benterman believes that the addition of Owen Longley to his squad will strengthen their push for Thurlow Nunn League division one promotion this year.

Having been frustrated by a frozen pitch at Team Bury last weekend, the Humbugs are due to return to action with a home game against Needham Market Reserves today (kick-off 3pm) and Benterman said Longley would come into the squad after joining from Haverhill Rovers.

The winger has also played for Haverhill Borough and signed for Rovers last summer, but Benterman feels he will provide important options up front for his team now he has come to Rosemary Lane.

Benterman said: “We have brought Owen Longley in from Haverhill Rovers and he’s someone who can play up front or out wide and gives us more good options up front.

“We just felt we needed to add more depth to the squad and there are not the bodies in the reserves who we could call up with the position that we are in at the moment.

“If there was nothing to play for then we would look to give experience to younger players, but until we are out of the promotion race we need people in the squad who give us the best possible chance.

“It’s common knowledge that we haven’t been scoring enough goals.

“We have Sam Cripps and Tom Holdstock up front, but they need to be given the ammunition to create chances and I feel Owen falls into the bracket.

“We’ve played against him and seen that he is direct and a player of the type that we don’t have at the moment.

“I want us to have as many options as we can in the forward area and make sure that we have a strong squad.

“Some people are a bit out of form and we have suspensions and we also have to take that into consideration, so Owen will come into consideration for the weekend against Needham Market.”

Someone else who will come into the Halstead squad for the game against Needham Market at Rosemary Lane is midfielder Nick Miller, who is set for a recall back into the Town first-team.

Benterman added: “Nick has come back into the squad because we have players out through injury and suspension.

“He brings quality and has been unfortunate not to have featured more for the first team, but others have been doing well and Nick has had to bide his time in the reserves.

“However, he is now back and comes with experience so it’s up to him to grab his opportunity and make sure others have to sit out.”

James Regan is fit but unavailable due to personal commitments, while both Jordan Hutchings and Jake Brown are suspended.