Boss Tommy Warrilow spoke to Sam Hasler about his disciplinary problems this season ahead of his sparkling Faversham return.

Midfielder Hasler and winger Kieron Campbell scored two stunning late goals as Town fought back to draw 2-2 at Deal in the Southern Counties East Premier Division on Tuesday.

Hasler had been banned for Warrilow’s first two matches in charge of the Lilywhites.

But he’s returned with a bang, scoring four in three games, also bagging a brace in last weekend’s 4-1 win at Fisher.

“One of the first things I did was pull him and have a chat because all these suspensions aren’t the Sam Hasler we know,” said Warrilow.

“We just had a proper chat where I told him ‘We need you on the pitch’ and asked if everything is all right, and went through stuff with him.

“He’s a passionate lad. He’s got to try and curb that passion.

“He’s been outstanding, which we knew he would be. We’ve had him before so we know what he’s all about.

“When we get set-pieces now, he’s a threat. On Tuesday, he got on the ball and had an all-round good game.

“Thankfully, he seems like he’s enjoying his football a bit more. He’s relaxing and not putting so much pressure on himself to get in the situations that he was getting in, prior to me coming in.”

With illness sweeping through Faversham’s camp, they were left with just 11 senior players at the Charles Sports Ground when midfielder Billy Bingham (back) pulled out in the warm-up.

They trailed to an Aaron Millbank double before Hasler and Campbell struck in quick succession to earn a point.

Warrilow was without striker Warren Mfula (ill), right-back Josh Vincent (knee) and captain Connor Essam (fractured cheekbone). He admitted he would like to add more depth to his squad.

“Payney was sick on Tuesday, as well,” said Warrilow.

“He phoned me during the day but we got him down there to see how he was on the day.

“But we weren’t there to feel sorry for ourselves. The squad is the squad and this is what it’s about.

“Rahman Kareem did really well until he seized up a bit due to not having a lot of football.

“The young kid, Jermain Kevill, came on and put himself around. He was lively up top.

“But it’s not the biggest squad in the world. With four out and Payney playing, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out we were a bit light.

“No disrespect, we had the under-23s on the bench but, deep down, you want to look around and see some proven players there.

“But I’m not taking anything away from the young lads because they did a fantastic job.”

The injury sustained by former Gillingham and Dartford defender Essam in last month’s loss to frontrunners Glebe is a particularly big one.

Warrilow explained: “He fractured his cheekbone - but it’s not a bad fracture.

“I think it’s three weeks after he did it when he’ll go back to get it assessed.

“Whether he can put one of those masks on, we’re not sure. JV (Vincent) jarred his knee on Saturday.

“Billy Bingham has had a back injury.

“We thought it was fine, he thought it was fine, but warming up on Tuesday, he felt it again.

“Warren rang me to say he had been ill at work. To be fair, the chairman, Gary Smart, is ill and (vice-chairman) Marc Leader has been ill. There’s something flying around the camp at the moment.”

Town will host Holmesdale this Saturday. While Holmesdale are sitting in mid-table, they themselves recently took a point off red-hot Deal and enjoyed a good FA Vase run.

“They won 4-0 at Hollands & Blair on Tuesday,” noted Warrilow, who has also seen defender Ollie Gray leave for rivals Whitstable.

“They will be treated in the same way as all the teams that we play against. There’s no mindset change because of where they are in the table. We just get on with it.

“All I want to do is build levels. Like I said to the boys, when we get them to a certain level, we will push them to another one. We’ll just keep pushing you.

“If we can carry on where we left off on Tuesday and tidy up a few bits, we’ll be fine for the rest of the season.

“It’s important that we have a good February. I’m fed-up with all these ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ with where the teams around us are.

“Hopefully, by the end of February, a few of the teams will have caught up with where we are and that’ll give us a bit more realism of where we are.

“We’re not stupid - we know Deal and Corinthian have lots of games in hand - but we just want them to catch up a little bit and then we’ll get a little bit of reality with these league positions.

“Until it’s mathematically impossible, we’re going to be chasing for the title.”