NEW SIGNING Jamie Hyde will provide Malvern Town with invaluable experience, says boss Les Jones.
The 35-year-old left-sided defender has made the move to the HDAnywhere Community Stadium from Midland League Premier Division outfit Stourport Swifts after making just three starts in the new campaign.
With defenders Aaron Richards, Dene Whittal-Williams (holiday) and Chris Parker (knee) all missing for the Hillsiders ahead of their West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division clash at Black Country Rangers on Saturday, Jones has acted fast to bring in the former Worcester City and Evesham United player.
Hyde also spent three seasons with Malvern from 2006 to 2009 before moving to the Robins.
Jones said: “Jamie has plenty of quality and experience. We have got a very young side here at Malvern as only Dene, Dave [Reynolds], Bryan [Craven] and Paul [Edwards] are the older players.
“We are looking to push on in the league and a new signing with this kind of experience is exactly what we needed.
“When you have someone who has played for the likes of Worcester in your team, in tough games that experience can be invaluable.”
Malvern travel to Black Country Rangers on the back of a 3-0 victory at Bewdley Town on Saturday, a result which quickly put to bed an agonising 1-0 defeat to Pegasus Juniors the week before.
Goals from Craven, Nathan Hayward and skipper Reece King secured the win for the Hillsiders who sit third in the table after 12 games.
“Bewdley have picked up tremendously recently so to come away with the three points was delightful,” said Jones, who will be without Sam Rathbone and Louis Loader this weekend due to knee injuries.
“We needed to win on Saturday to keep up with Wolverhapton Sporting Community and Haughmond and we have to follow up that victory with another in the Black Country.”