Hampton & Richmond Borough boss Alan Devonshire the signing of Michael Lee Charles is partly to provide long-term cover for veteran striker Lawrence Yaku.

The 22-year-old completed a move from Farnborough FC this week having scored 58 goals in 102 appearances at Cherrywood Road and was an unused substitute in Tuesday’s 2-2 draw with league leaders Braintree Town.

Lee-Charles follows former Carshalton Athletic and Sutton United frontman Craig Dundas - who has scored two goals in his last two games for the Beavers - into Devonshire’s striking ranks.

And the West Ham United legend insists he now has enough resources to allow Yaku the rest he needs to get through the season.

“Lawrence is in his mid-thirties so you can’t expect him to play every game. It is not a case of replacing Yaks, but he needs to be looked after and we have to think about the future,” he said.

“Michael has come in to help us do that. He is a natural goalscorer and once he gets into it he is going to be a big asset.

“We’ve got four strikers I’m very pleased with now.

“Craig has done ever so well for us. I’ve liked him for a while and once he became available I moved for him. He has been a top goalscorer at this level and has settled in well.”

Dundas scored the winner in Saturday’s 2-1 win at Bromley - Yaku bagged the first - before notching the first in the mid-week draw as Hampton have bounced back from losing the opening two games of the season.

Goalkeeper Matt Lovett returns from suspension for Saturday’s trip to Bath City, but Devonshire is still sweating on the fitness of Ian Hodges (hernia), Dean Wells (groin), Ashley Smith (ankle), Jamie Collins (calf) and Graham Harper (hamstring).

However, Stuart Lake’s last minute equaliser Braintree has left the Beveree boss believing his luck is starting to change.

“It was two points lost for us on Tuesday because we battered them and if we had got the second goal earlier that would have killed them off,” he added.

“It is a hard, open league. No team has won all four games thus far, but we have got our season up and running now.

“If we can clear our injuries up things will start looking even better, but maybe with Stuart scoring late on Tuesday, our luck is starting to change.”

Keiron Knight and Robbie Kember have been released, while Steve Tyson has moved to Kingstonian on a dual-registration deal.

Hampton’s next three fixtures: Aug 22 Bath City (h), 29 Thurrock (h), 31 St Albans City (a).