Ex Gill Saunders entices Howell to Folkestone

Highly rated utility player Luke Howell signed for Folkestone Invicta today from League One side Gillingham, on a one month loan, writes Andy Bown & Tom Marchant - www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk

Howell, 18, is a player Invicta boss Cugley has been after for some time and he explained: "The signing was completely down to Mark Saunders. He went up there yesterday and spoke to the manager and the chairman who he gets on with really well and he explained that we haven’t got any money and could we come to some kind of agreement.

"Sometimes the Gills get moaned at for various reasons but they’ve been really good to us, letting him come for nothing and it’s a great help for us because we’re having problems with injuries."

Loaning Howell to the Seasiders also benefits the Gills as the Invicta boss pointed out.

"I’ve had the option to sign Luke for a month now but he’s come back from injury and the past few weeks he’s been in the Gills squad, in a League Cup game which he played in and also in a League game so we weren’t able to bring him in then," said Cugley.

"But they’ve had a couple of players back from injury and so they feel he could do with some games."

In terms of squad numbers Invicta have been struggling lately so the signing of Luke is a big boost in preparation for tomorrow’s match against Billericay Town in the Second Qualifying Round of the Carlsberg F.A Trophy.

One of Howell’s important assets is his versatility and Cugley said: "Obviously we’ve got a tiny squad at the moment and not a lot of money but the great thing about Luke, despite him only being 18, is that he can play any position really; across the midfield or at the back so we’re really pleased we’ve got him.

"He played superbly for Welling last year and Matt Carruthers this year said what a hot prospect he was, so people really think highly of him".

"He’ll go straight into the side for tomorrow. We’ve worked out he’s got seven games in his loan period and obviously that suits Gillingham because it gives him the match fitness which is what he needs.

"We can’t say where he’s going to play yet because we’re waiting on a few niggly injuries; Micheal Everitt has got his facial injury and Mark Saunders has still has got a dodgy ankle from the last game so we’re just waiting on those and also Kevin Watson’s got four bookings and with the games coming thick and fast we really need some cover".

The Folkestone manager remains very hopeful that those who picked up knocks last weekend against Ramsgate will be able to take their place in the squad tomorrow afternoon.

Of the injuries sustained against Ramsgate, the nastiest was the accidental elbow Micheal Everitt received just above his eye, which required stitches at hospital.

Cugley said: "As long as he’s comfortable with it he’ll play, if he’s not comfy then obviously we won’t force him to play but he is an important player and we saw that when he came off at Ramsgate and we’ll do all we can to get him playing tomorrow.

"Ben (Sly) trained the other day and was running but the stitches are still in his wound because it hasn’t healed very well and it doesn’t look very nice so he won’t be fit for at least a couple of weeks."

The manager also gave an update on the progress of ex Blackburn Rovers forward James Corbett who has been playing in the reserves in a bid to increase his fitness, "Jimmy’s coming along slowly. He got an injury last week in the game so he couldn’t train this week but with him it’s just a bonus if he starts playing and breaks into the team and as a club we hope the games improve his fitness because he’s certainly got the skill. We’ll assess the situation with him at the end of the month."

With full time outfit Billericay the visitors to the Buzzlines Stadium tomorrow afternoon, Cugley is expecting a tough game.

He said: "We had a good scrap with them earlier in the season at their place and at the time they weren’t going through the best of spells but they’ve done well recently and picked up some results.

"Obviously with them being full time they are very fit and if you let them start passing the ball about they can definitely hurt you because they’ve got some good players so we’re going to go at them and stop them playing so it should be a good game".

Visit Folkestone Invicta's website:  www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk

Folkestone Invicta v Billericay Town
FA Carlsberg Trophy Second Qualifying Round
Saturday 4th November 2006
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Buzzlines Stadium, Cheriton Road, Folkestone