Welwyn Garden City manager Marc Weatherstone has made the bold move of signing on himself - to help the Citizens to combat a defensive injury crisis.

The Urbaser Stadium boss, only 34, was playing in the Isthmian League Premier Division less than two years ago for Enfield Town.

Prior to that, the combative central defender helped Dulwich Hamlet to National League promotion in his two seasons with them, having spent the previous 10 seasons with Wingate & Finchley, for whom he is the club’s all-time record appearance holder, with 457 outings for the Summers Lane club.

He retired from playing to take up the reins at the north London club as their manager two seasons ago.

He has also added one of his former Wingate & Finchley players – fellow central defender Jake Eales - on a dual registration from Kingstonian.

Eales was previously with the Citizens at the end of 2019, when he made three appearances while on a month’s loan.

The 24-year-old, ex-QPR junior has made seven appearances for the K’s this season since joining at the start of the year, having played five times for Wingate & Finchley at the beginning of the campaign.

Boss Weatherstone, who says he will only play in “the most dire emergency’’, has four central defenders and a full-back injured.

Central defenders Zak Brown (ankle), knee victims Sam Hatton and Yasin Boodhoo and Ryan Doherty (hamstring) are all currently on the treatment table, while left-back Ryan Kirwan pulled a hamstring within five minutes of the start of Saturday’s 1-1 home draw with Didcot Town.

Welwyn host near neighbours Hertford Town on Saturday.