AFC TOTTON have compensated for the loss of Liam Gilbert by welcoming back another industrious engine room worker.

Dave Allen has returned to the club to fill the midfield berth freed up by Gilbert’s switch to Southern One South & West rivals Winchester City, writes Wendy Gee.

Allen became a popular figure at Totton when he signed in the summer of 2012, linking up again with former manager Steve Riley who had made him captain during their Bashley days together.

But Allen, also a former Winchester City skipper, was unable to capitalise on his positive start for the Stags when he was sidelined for months with a broken foot bone.

He had spells with Dorchester and Weymouth after leaving Totton and has recently taken a break from football for family reasons.

“Dave’s had a bit of a sabbatical after becoming a dad and had a couple of months off,” said Totton boss Steve Hollick.

“He’s a friend of mine and I got in contact with him and he’s been enjoying the training sessions with Burchy (head coach Lee Burch) and Dave Rowland (club coach) and he’s got a bit of hunger back.

“It was important from a club point of view to make a big signing like Dave after losing Liam Gilbert and I take my hat off to chairman Andy Straker and the rest of the committee for making it possible.

“The last thing we want to do is to lose big players and not replace them like for like with good quality.

“If we can get Dave back to anything like his best, he’ll be a great addition for us.”

The versatile Allen can also play up front, but Totton are now well stocked in that department with Craig Feeney, Nathaniel Sherborne and Taylor Edwards all re-signing and Mark Lilley joining from Hythe & Dibden.

At the back, the Stags have been boosted by young Ellis White agreeing new terms.

“With Mark Lilley coming in we’ve got a fourth striker, we’re looking strong in midfield and Ellis gives us good competition at the back,” said Hollick.

“We’re getting back to looking like a Southern League side.”