Lowestoft Town striker Jake Reed may be cup tied for this afternoon's FA Cup second qualifying round clash at Coalville but the Blues have got the missing link in their Conference North campaign.

That's the verdict of director of football Craig Fleming, who swooped last week to re-sign the frontman after he had left Crown Meadow for AFC Sudbury in the summer.

While Lowestoft have made an encouraging start to their league campaign, the lack of a cutting edge has cost them points, particularly on the road where they are yet to register a win this season.

Fleming did however warn it could take some time for Reed to rediscover the form that helped take Lowestoft to promotion last season given his lack of playing time at Sudbury.

'He (Reed) is probably something that we've been lacking up there so far this season,' said Fleming.

'He will give us an extra option up there and we've seen before how good he can be for us.

'We have got lots of options and they all add something different. Jake is raring to go but he has not had much match time this season and it will take him a bit of time to get up to speed.

'It's obviously a level up from what he has been used to playing as well.'

Whilst Lowestoft will have to do without Reed this afternoon the Blues will be favourites against Coalville, who play two steps below Fleming's men in the Evo-Stik Northern Division One South.

The winners of today's tie will bank £4,500 but Fleming hasn't discussed whether prize money from any potential cup runs would be ploughed into his playing budget.

'A cup run is always brilliant for a football club, its fans and its finances,' he said.

'Having said that every club thinks that and wants to do well. We haven't had a discussion about whether any money earned from the cup run can be put into the team. The most important thing is that the club gets itself on an even keel. That's what the board are looking to do this year.

'Hopefully we can consolidate our position in the Conference and we can improve things off the pitch as well.'

Dan Gleeson is a major doubt with an ankle injury but Jack Ainsley returns after missing the defeat at Hyde due to family commitments.

Fleming is confident that whoever the Blues start with will have the quality to avoid an upset.

'You have to be wary because in a one-off game anything can happen,' he added. 'They are the underdogs, which makes it in some ways easier for them to prepare.

'There's no pressure on them but as long as we approach the game in the right way we're always confident of getting a result.'