TERRAS' chief Jason Matthews reckons new signing Ben Thomson will bring “something different” to his squad.

Thomson could be thrown straight into Weymouth’s starting XI for tomorrow’s home clash with St Neots (3pm) due to the unavailability of Stewart Yetton.

Boss Matthews was delighted after capturing Thomson on non-contract terms from fellow Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division outfit Frome, and the Weymouth player-manager thanked the Robins for waiving his seven-day approach for the striker.

“Ben is someone I looked at before the start of the season and with Adrian Foster leaving Frome the chance to bring him in opened up,” said Matthews.

“Ben is something different to the type of player we have got and it was too good an opportunity to miss.

“I’d like to thank Frome for waiving the seven days.”

He added: “Ben is powerful and quick, and he will get behind defences.

“He has scored a few goals at this level and a lot of goals at Toolstation level.

“He gives me another option and it’s good that we have a lot of competition for places in the squad now.”

Skipper Yetton, who has netted the winner in each of the Terras’ last two games, is unavailable tomorrow due to a prior commitment which he made Matthews aware of when he signed his first two-year deal with the club.

Jake Wannell is unavailable for the Terras’ next two games meaning he will miss Monday’s Ridgeway derby as well.

Dean Evans is also suspended for the clash with the Saints.

“Yetts will be back for Monday, Jake won’t be, but they have both been honest with me and told me about it before they signed their deals,” Matthews said.

“Yetts told me about it two years ago before he signed his first two-year contract.

“It’s just one game and it’s up to someone else to step up to the plate.

“We have a bit more of a squad this year and we look to forward to seeing someone take their chance.”

The boss also gave an update on the fitness of influential centre-half Pat Baldwin, who came off after picking up a calf problem at Kettering on Saturday.

He added: “Pat has had treatment this week and is still 50-50 for Saturday.

“I may be very inclined not to chance him because, with a calf injury, it’s very tricky and I don’t want him missing for five weeks when maybe one week might be enough to get him back to full fitness.”

Speaking about who comes in for the suspended Evans, the Weymouth supremo said: “I feel Billy Lowes has been incredibly unlucky in the last two games but that’s the choice of having a good squad and I have no doubt that, when he does come in, he will do a great job.

“Mark Molesley is also nearing full fitness, as is Chris McPhee, so we are still in a positive position.

“Training has been superb this week and you can tell there is competition for places because of the tempo of it. That’s something we lacked last year.

“Saturday will be a tough game and St Neots will be a well-drilled side.”

The Saints missed out on promotion last season when they lost to Truro in the league play-off final.