JOSE Barandiaran will make his debut for Dorchester at home to former Nationwide Conference side Margate tomorrow (3pm) after his international clearance finally arrived.
And Magpies boss Mark Morris revealed today that the 26-year-old Spanish midfielder could soon be joined in the black and white stripes by a fellow countryman who was once on the books of Real Sociedad.
"He's a striker in his early 20s who joined us at training last night and looked very sharp," said Morris today. "I don't want to say too much about him just yet but hopefully we can agree something with him."
Morris will also be having talks tomorrow with former Reading central defender Gary Middleton who was on trial with AFC Bournemouth when they met the Magpies in a friendly at the Avenue Stadium earlier this month.
"Slowly but surely things are beginning to happen as I knew they would and with a stronger squad to chose from I am confident we can start getting the right results," said Morris as his side look for their first points in the new Conference South following defeats at Lewes and at home to Weston-super-Mare on Tuesday night.
Ex-Terras Mark Robinson and David Laws are also available again after missing the mid-week defeat by Weston in which the Magpies squandered a two-goal lead.
"Mark is away on a training course with the prison service during the week and will also miss Monday's game at Havant," said Morris. "But after that he should be available on a regular basis.
"With him and Joseba to come into midfield we will have a lot more options in that department. Joseba is a very creative player who will restore some of the balance we lost with Matty Holmes retirement."
With six goals conceded in their two outings, it is in defence where Dorchester have run into most problems. However Morris may give his back four one more chance to get it right tomorrow.
"I was very pleased with the way they defended against sides like Wycombe, Bournemouth and Yeovil and they have to start playing like that again," he said.
Margate knocked the Magpies out of the FA Trophy last season in a replay at Ashford's Homelands ground after a 2-2 draw at the Avenue Stadium. But they were later relegated from the Nationwide Conference despite finishing halfway up the table because they didn't have a home to call their own.
However last week they were given permission to start planning a £10 million re-development of their Hartsdown Road stadium and long-serving manager Chris Kinnear was in buoyant mood as he warned they are ready to start climbing the leagues again.
"If people want to underestimate us, so be it. They will treat us lightly at their peril," said Kinnear who still has more than half last season's Conference squad on his staff.
Magpies squad: Craig Bradshaw, Carl Poore, Michael Walker, Alex Browne, Andy Harris, Anthony Griffin, Joseba Barandiaran, Mark Robinson, Jamie Brown, Warren Byerley, Matt Groves, Justin Keeler, David Laws, Simon Radcliffe, Michael White.
* Dorchester keeper Mark Ormerod begins a month's loan with Ryman Premier League Worthing Town tomorrow.
* Dorchester Reserves have signed exciting teenage midfield prospect Karanjit Aujla from Poole Town who goes straight into Phil Simkin's side when they start their Dorset Premier League programme at Stourpaine tomorrow.
Magpies squad: Myers, Wilson, Carter, Llewelyn, Guetlin, Symes, Allen, Critchell, Edwards, Aujla, Borthwick, Senior, Williams, Dixon.
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