Lowestoft Town joint boss Ady Gallagher believes the club's latest signings demonstrate how keen the Blues are to keep progressing through the leagues.

The Trawlerboys completed the signings of Nathan Stone and Dean Sinclair from Leiston and Arlesey respectively and both are expected to feature in this afternoon's Ryman League Premier clash at home to Tooting & Mitcham at Crown Meadow this afternoon.

And Gallagher, pictured, insists the pair can provide a timely boost to their promotion aspirations and perhaps send out a message to the squad that they must remain at the top of their game if they want to stay in the starting XI.

'I think new players arriving at the club reminds players that they can take nothing for granted and perhaps re-focuses the mind,' he said. 'There has not been a lot of change around because we have always believed in the squad that we have got and it's the management team's job to get the most out of them. But bringing new players in shows we are a club moving forward and it normally gives everyone around the place a boost.'

Stone's arrival eases the goalscoring burden on Matt Nolan, who has been struggling with a heel problem which will have to be monitored for the rest of the season. With Dale Cockrill still suffering from a persistent back problem, the signing of Sinclair could also be timely and the former Norwich City midfielder could be thrown into the starting XI today alongside fellow ex-Canaries Robert Eagle and Andrew Fisk.

After the enforced winter break Lowestoft will be desperate to return to winning ways after defeat against Kingstonian last time out.

Struggling Tooting looks to be the perfect fixture for the Blues to get their season back on track but Gallagher knows the visitors are capable of causing another upset just as they did when they beat the Blues earlier in the season.

'They showed in beating us earlier this season that they are capable of producing good performances.

'We know what they are all about despite their league position – they showed in beating us earlier this season that they are capable of producing good performances.

'I must admit that I do find it irritating to see teams just raise their game against us but it's something that we've had to deal with.

'I feel sorry for their manager because he must be at a loss to explain why his players look so good against us but are struggling at the wrong end of the table. All the lads are determined to put the Kingstonian defeat behind them – it wasn't a good result to go into a break with but that's made the lads doubly determined to ensure we come back with a win.'