EASTLEIGH head to Vanarama Conference leaders Barnet tomorrow blighted by the worst spate of injuries manager Richard Hill has ever experienced.

James Constable is out with foot ligament damage while fellow frontman Jack Midson missed training after coming off with a shoulder injury in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw against Bristol Rovers.

But most concerning of all is news that recent signing Jamie Turley has taken a knock on the arm he broke during the summer.

The club are awaiting medical advice regarding the England C defender, who has not played since his man-of-the-match debut against Braintree two weeks ago.

Turley sat out last Saturday’s 3-0 defeat against Wrexham through illness and took a blow to his arm in training on Monday.

“He knocked it falling over and we took him straight out of training so he could get it checked out thoroughly and it looks like it’s put him back few weeks,” confirmed Hill.

Eastleigh signed Turley from under the noses of Bristol Rovers while Darrell Clarke’s side were awaiting a doctor’s report on the player’s arm. The Spitfires, who had been chasing the 24-year-old since May, had their own tests carried out which confirmed he was fit to play.

“This is a blow because the medical tests we had done on Jamie before we signed him gave him the all-clear,” said Hill. “We did our due diligence and everything indicated he was fit.”

It could have been worse for Eastleigh.

Initially they suspected that Constable, their marquee summer signing from Oxford United, had broken his foot.

An X-ray confirmed otherwise, but the 29-year-old – the Spitfires’ top scorer with four goals – will not be fit to face Martin Allen’s table-topping Barnet, who also drew 1-1 on Tuesday, at Braintree.

“James’s injury was just an innocuous one when he went up with the goalkeeper at Wrexham and landed awkwardly,” said Hill. “Tomorrow will be too soon for him, but I hope to have him back next week.

“Jack Midson didn’t train yesterday either. Yemi Odubade did, but he’s had a hamstring problem and he’s touch and go for selection.”

It had crossed Hill’s mind to turn to academy coach Lee Peacock who helped smooth over an injury crisis towards the end of last season. But, typically of Eastleigh’s luck right now, the former Manchester City, Sheffield Wednesday and Swindon striker has a groin strain.

“I’ve never known it this bad for injuries,” sighed Hill. “We’ve got 17 outfield players, when fit, and four of them – including Ben Wright (knee) – are injured, plus we’ve lost our No 2 goalkeeper Lewis Noice (broken ankle).

“So out of a squad of 19, we’ve got five out and one (defender Dean Beckwith) who has only just come back.

“We finished last season with 12 outfield players but I expected it then because it was the end of the season. You don’t expect it now. “I’ve not been able to field the same side as often as I’d like and that’s down to injury.”

Scholars Tony Lee and Harrison Weeks, currently getting Wessex games with Lymington, have been recalled, along with Jack Smith who has been turning out for Wantage in the Southern League.

Hill, meanwhile, has confirmed he will not be re-signing Reece Connolly now that the frontman has completed a six-month drugs ban relating to his time at Farnborough.