SATURDAY’S match-winning hero Joey Jones is a major doubt for Eastleigh tomorrow as they bid to make it seven wins in eight National League games at home to Maidstone United (Tuesday, 7.45pm).

Top scorer Paul McCallum came off injured towards the end of the Spitfires’ 3-2 victory at Chesterfield, while right wing-back Josh Hare needed a gash on his left foot stitched after the match.

But it transpires that Jones, who had appeared to come through the 90 minutes unscathed, is the most doubtful of the three due to the recurrence of a calf problem.

The 24-year-old midfielder again deputised for injured centre-back Reda Johnson at Chesterfield and broke from his defensive shackles with devastating effect to win the game with a brilliant solo effort on 83 minutes.

It was only afterwards that manager Ben Strevens realised the 24-year-old former Woking man had a problem.

“We didn’t know it during the game, but Joey seems to have done something to his calf,” he reported.

“If the injury was somewhere else he wouldn’t be as worried, but he had the same problem before he came to the club and missed some of last season for Woking.

“Joey is a reflection of the group this season, he’s improving all the time and proving to be the player we all thought he would be.

“He scored a great goal on Saturday, driving out of defence, committing people and hitting a hell of a strike.

“It’ll be a shame if he can’t play tomorrow, but things like this happen in football.

"The good thing is that Reda’s back in the squad (after hamstring trouble) and Shaun Hobson (on loan from AFC Bournemouth) made his debut as a late sub at Chesterfield. We’re fortunate that we’ve got such good cover.

“Any successful team is a collective. Of course you’re disappointed when you don’t play but, when you get the chance, it’s up to you to make an impact and that’s what the boys are doing.”

McCallum, voted National League player-of-the-month for February, didn’t train today and the 22-goal hitman will be reporting early for a fitness test ahead of tomorrow's game.

The Spitfires’ other doubt surrounds Hare, who couldn’t kick with his left foot for the whole of the second half at Chesterfield after an opponent had landed on it.

As a former Maidstone man, Hare will be eager to face his old club.

Tomorrow's showdown is massive for both sides. Eighth-placed Eastleigh want to force themselves back into the play-off zone, while the Stones are scrapping for National League survival in second-to-bottom spot.

“They’re fighting for their lives and they’ve got a manager I respect greatly in John Still, who signed me out of non-League football (for Barnet),” said Strevens.

“They had a good result against Havant on Saturday (a 2-0 home win). I’ve watched that game and they played well.

“It’s going to be another tough one tomorrow, but I’m looking forward to it.”

Young Eastleigh forward Tom Bearwish is joining Evo-Stik Division One South leaders Blackfield & Langley on a youth loan.

“Tom did well on a previous loan at Totton and it’s good we can send him out on a youth loan and bring him back whenever we need him,” said Strevens.