Interim joint-manager Reece Prestedge is eyeing further arrivals at Margate.

Gate have allowed striker David Smith to briefly return to parent club Bromley and, although Prestedge and fellow interim joint-boss Ben Greenhalgh have already brought in striker Phil Roberts and playmaker Nathan Wood, more signings could soon be on the way.

Prestedge said: “We want to bring a couple more players in, not just attacking wise.

“I think we are about two off. We’re speaking to quite a few players at the moment.

"Hopefully, we can get those deals done.

“Then I think we will be in a good place squad-wise. Hopefully, it starts clicking.”

Smith signed for Isthmian Premier Margate last month on a season-long loan.

But despite netting 35 times last term for rivals Folkestone, he failed to score in a competitive fixture and the club cut the loan deal short, before Smith joined Hastings.

Prestedge said: “He’s a great lad, we loved having him around. But for whatever reason, it didn’t work.

“That’s what has happened and he has gone to Hastings - good luck to him.

"We know he can score goals. Unfortunately for us, it just didn’t work.”

Margate, who tonight are due to host third-bottom Bowers & Pitsea, this Saturday face 18th-placed Wingate & Finchley at Hartsdown Park.

“With home games, you should be aiming for three points - regardless of who you are playing,” Prestedge said.

“Any points you get away are sort of a bonus.

“We have back-to-back home games and we need maximum points from them. We want to make Margate a fortress - that’s what we are aiming for.

“Hopefully these two games can show what we have been working on behind closed doors.”

Former Gillingham midfielder Billy Knott (hamstring) remains a doubt for the 16th-placed outfit but Harry Hudson and Harrison Hatfull are back fit, as is fellow defender Taylor Fisher who has been out for nearly two months.

“Knotty still has got hamstring issues,” Prestedge said. “We’re still assessing that.

“You don’t want to bring people back from that too early. Pretty much the rest of the squad are in contention to be selected.

“Harry Hudson and Harrison Hatfull had knocks.

"Taylor has been training, as well, but we want to ease him back into it.”

Fisher impressed at Isthmian South East Sittingbourne before arriving at Margate last summer.

Prestedge said: “He will bring a natural balance to us.

“We didn’t really want to bring a left-back in as cover. He was only two or three weeks away when we came in.

“Harrison and Freddy Barton are more than capable of playing on the left side.

"I know they’re right-footed but they should know when to cover and when not to cover. It’s certainly not alien to them.

“But Taylor will be a massive boost when he is back.”

Margate's league trip to Bognor last Saturday was called off due to a frozen pitch.

Prestedge commented: “Obviously we would rather it be on a Saturday than going on a Tuesday night. That side of things is a bit gutting.

“But as long as we know early enough, it’s not too much of an issue.”

They are now due to travel to Bognor on Tuesday, March 14.