Hythe Town have drafted in Maidstone’s Tommy Osborne on a month’s loan and could have a new striker at the club by the weekend.

They moved to sign the 33-year-old as cover, with three players – Nick Barnes, Craig Cloke and Darren Winfield – all under treatment.

Barnes will be out for at least a fortnight with a torn calf muscle, Cloke has a hamstring problem, while Winfield has had fluid removed from a knee this week.

All three picked up knocks in the 1-1 draw against Tooting in Saturday’s opener to the Ryman League, Division 1 South season.

Osborne, who missed much of pre-season with the Stones because of a knee injury, made his debut in the 3-2 win at Faversham on Tuesday night, Hythe winning after going a goal down and missing a penalty.

Dave Cook (2) and Ronnie Dolan were the scorers as Hythe avenged last season’s 3-0 play-off semi-final defeat at Salters Lane last April.

Coach Lloyd Blackman said: “It was a fantastic performance by the boys who got their rewards and a satisfying result. Memories are still raw after that loss on what wasn’t a good night. It is still on our minds and was part of our team-talk before the game and gave us an extra impetus and edge in the way we played.”