Hythe boss James Rogers has brought defender Scott Doe back to Reachfields.

Doe’s return brings some much-needed experience to a Cannons side who have conceded nine goals in their last two Isthmian South East home games.

They lost 4-0 at home to VCD on Saturday, hot on the heels of a 5-1 midweek defeat by Burgess Hill.

Doe was released by former boss Steve Watt but Rogers, who played against VCD despite being “20 or 30 per cent fit”, has taken the chance to re-sign him.

“It’s massive for us, getting Scott back,” said Rogers. “Our lack of experience is telling at the moment.

“I’m unaware of why he left in the first place.

“I don’t know if it was down to the budget, or what it was, but Watty would have had his reasons.

“For a player of his quality not to be doing anything at the moment, I jumped at the chance to get him back.

“We’ll have him going forward and if we can Tom Wynter back in a couple of weeks, that’ll give us the experience we need at the back.

“I don’t think there are two better centre-halves than Wynts and Scott in our league.

“There are some very good ones, Liam Friend at Ashford is a friend of mine and I rate him massively, but Wynts and Scott are right up there.”

Hythe have had a few Covid cases in the camp and Rogers fears for Monday’s game at Ramsgate should any more players suffer.

Either way, he’s confident Hythe will move on quickly from their heavy back-to-back losses.

“It looks like we’ve been battered in both games but that’s not been the case,” said Rogers.

“We’ve not been cut open, it’s just individual mistakes being punished as a result of our lack of experience and the injuries we’ve got in the side.

“These young lads are good players but they need some experience out there to guide them.

“That’s why I’m so pleased to get Scott back and when me, Wynts and Alex Brown are fully fit, that gives us the experience we need.

“I’m not too down about the results because it’s fine margins, we’re not far off and when we’ve got all our players back, I know we’ll be strong.”

Rogers could also do with some experience in attack and is targeting a new striker.

Frannie Collin, who left Hythe a few weeks ago, is yet to sign for anybody but, unlike Doe, he won’t be returning.

“If I could afford Frannie, I’d have him!” said Rogers.

“He’s had offers from clubs but I don’t think he’s looking to do anything this side of Christmas.

"I’m sure in the new year he’ll sign for someone. Once the squad’s settled I’ll be looking to bring in a striker.

"It doesn’t even need to be a 20-goal man, just someone to link the play up a bit.

"With the boys we’ve got up there at the moment, where we’re inexperienced, we’re not playing to their strengths.”