31/12/08

Lewes manager Kevin Keehan hopes to be able to give new loan signing Josh Klein-Davies his first team debut against Eastbourne Borough tomorrow.

The 19 year old striker from Bristol Rovers joins Lewes on a month’s loan having spent the past month at Blue Square South side Newport County, who were reluctant to lose the Welsh Under-19 international.

Klein-Davies scored once in ten games during his stay at County,  although that included only two starts, and Keehan is anxious that his new signing, who he has tracked for a while, can answer some questions for Lewes in front of goal.

Keehan said: “He is hungry for goals and gives us a presence around the box. I tried to sign him at the start of December but that didn’t work out.”

Klein-Davies will have a chance to impress with the Rooks, as Sam Gargan’s ankle injury effectively rules him out of the next two matches with Eastbourne and Stevenage, taking him up to the end of his loan period, and his situation will have to be addressed by Keehan over the next week.

Joe Tabiri has extended his loan deal for a third month but there is a possibility that Aswad Thomas will play his last match for Lewes against Eastbourne, after which his loan deal runs out.

The defender has been an impressive player during his stay at Lewes, and supporters will be anxious not to lose the services of the Charlton youngster who is stalling on extending his loan period through until the end of the season, which is the only loan option left as he has already spent three months at the Dripping Pan.

Keehan said: “We are still talking to Aswad and Charlton. We have to take him now for the rest of the season but Aswad is not sure about committing himself with his contract up with Charlton in the summer. He wants to stay in the Football League.”

“I am looking at all options at the moment. I have been relatively happy with the back four and the middle four, whoever has been playing there, but forwards have been a priority for me.