RICHARD Hill believes Eastleigh’s star summer strike signing James Constable is paying a price for his honesty.

Hill hailed Constable a non-stop running machine after Saturday’s 3-3 draw at Altrincham, but is concerned by the rough house treatment he is getting from Vanarama Conference defenders and the fact he earns remarkably few free-kicks.

Though the 29-year-old has played a big part in the Spitfires’ excellent start to the season, scoring three goals, Hill said: “James just keeps on running, he’s incredible, but he’s up against it a bit because everybody wants to stop him from scoring.

“At Altrincham he occupied the centre-halves with Craig McAllister so that other people could score.

“He’s getting quite a bit of rough treatment and being continually fouled, but he’s getting nowhere near the number of free-kicks he should be getting.

“I’m not saying referees are purposely against him, but on Saturday the centre-half fouled him every time the ball came into him.

“James is an honest bloke who doesn’t just want to fall down like a lot of players do. He stays strong and tries to keep the ball, but sometimes we have to be given the free-kick.

“I could count on one hand the amount of free-kicks he’s been given when in direct competition with a defender. In fact there have been times when he’s been fouled and the decision’s been given against him.”

Entry is FREE for both home and away fans as ninth-placed Eastleigh bid to keep their unbeaten home record intact against tenth-placed Forest Green Rovers at the Silverlake Stadium tonight (Tuesday, 7.45).

The pair are locked together on 15 points with four wins, three draws and two defeats apiece.

Eastleigh have no fewer than five FGR old boys in their squad – player-coach Chris Todd, Stuart Fleetwood, Jamie Collins, Yemi Odude and Ben Wright.

Frontman Wright is currently sidelined with knee problems and Hill is unlikely to rush midfielder Craig Stanley back from injury unless the handful of players who missed training through illness yesterday are ruled out.

Hill has himself been feeling “fluey” for three days and, instead of driving back to his Oxford home after training, booked into a Southampton hotel last night as “quarantine.”

He said: “Craig Stanley trained but we’ve got to take it steady with him and we’re in a position, perhaps, where we can afford to give him a bit longer.

“But we had five players – and I’m not saying which ones – who phoned in yesterday morning to say they were still feeling fluey and were struggling.

“We’ll have a head count today and see where it takes us. Fingers crossed.”

Ady Pennock’s Forest Green must again do without injured ex-Saints defender Aarran Racine and left-back James Jennings, while striker Lee Hughes completes a three-match ban.

The Gloucestershire club celebrated their first win in six games on Saturday, beating high-flying FC Halifax 2-0 with first-half goals from England C striker James Norwood and Jon Parkin.

Eastleigh have been averaging gates of 1,300-plus for home games this season – hence the generous gesture of free entry tonight.

“The club has been delighted with the attendances this season and would like to reward fans’ continued support both home and away,” said a Spitfires’ statement.