Chelmsford City have snapped up 23-year-old Sittingbourne full-back Paul Campbell and he goes straight into the side for Saturday's Dr Martens League Eastern Division home game with Burnham (kick-off 3pm).

The former Charlton Athletic youngster, who impressed City manager Gary Bellamy during their matches against the Kent side this season, will fill the difficult left-back berth.

Campbell has played 20 games for Sittingbourne this season, mainly in defence, and he has signed for City on a non-contract basis until the end of the current campaign.

This will allow Ross Taylor to move up on to the left side of midfield and give Bellamy further scope to ensure the side return to their winning ways and maintain their promotion push.

The left-back position has been a problem spot for the manager all season since the injury to Ian Cousins who has been out with serious ligament damage since early November.

There is however some encouraging news on his recovery progress as he has recently undergone what appears to be a successful operation.

City physiotherapist Paul Smith is hopeful that if he can continue to painstakingly build up his fitness then the promising defender should be able to make a return to first team action by September.

Also making a welcome return to the City squad is Ollie Berquez, who has been out for over four months with a broken leg, sustained in the 1-0 home league win against Spalding United at the end of October.

City's team is expected to be: Catley; Girling, Lewis, Bishop, Campbell; Haydon, Hyatt, Dobinson, Taylor; Portway, Bennett.

Substitutes from Berquez, Walker, Fuller, Rogers and Newman.

The manager was understandably extremely annoyed at the way the side played at Witney on Tuesday and felt they were fortunate to have collected a point.

"It's difficult to understand in a way but the players seem to be playing with a total fear of both making individual mistakes and losing a game," he declared.

"This is something which they have to overcome because once we start playing our football then I believe we are about the best in the division,'' he continued. "Like everything it's all about having confidence and now we have two games close together to put it right and have a bigger squad available."

One of the reasons why Bellamy has signed Campbell is not only because he was impressed having seen him play, but also the uncertain availability of Steve Moffat, the young Ipswich Town defender,.

He cried off from Tuesday's game the night before, having been selected to play for his club.

"I think Ollie Berquez coming back will again give us another dimension and I know he is keen to impress," Bellamy added.

By David Ward

Reporter's e-mail: dave.ward@essex-chronicle.co.uk

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