EASTLEIGH top gun Paul McCallum goes into this afternoon’s showdown at Chesterfield (3pm) boosted by the National League player-of-the-month award.

The former Leyton Orient marksman hit six goals in a fabulous February that saw the Spitfires move into serious play-off contention.

Despite struggling with injury, McCallum scored twice in the 3-1 win at Aldershot Town before repeating the trick with two towering headers from Mark Yeates’ corners in the 2-1 home success over Braintree Town.

Incredibly, he went on to complete a hat-trick of braces the following week as Eastleigh made the league sit up and take notice with a magnificent 2-0 victory at Salford City.

With 21 goals to his name – almost half of Eastleigh’s league tally of 44 - McCallum sits second in the National League goal charts behind AFC Fylde’s 23-goal sharpshooter Danny Rowe.

Spitfires' manager Ben Strevens said: “I remember Jai Reason getting an award, but I can’t think of too many other Eastleigh boys winning the league's player-of-the-month.

“It’s great for Macca and the whole team.

“I’ve always said Macca relies on good service and when we heard the news I said to the lads that it was credit to all of them as well for the service they give him.”

The manager-of-the-month award went to Maidenhead United's Alan Devonshire.