BREAKING NEWS: AFC Sudbury add proven striker

Proven non-League striker Luke Callander has this afternoon put pen to paper on a deal to sign for AFC Sudbury until the end of the season, the Free Press can reveal.

The experienced frontman has endured an injury-hit campaign which has included spells at higher-league Chelmsford City and Witham Town.

With AFC Sudbury looking for an extra spark to ignite their run-in for the play-offs, manager Jamie Godbold moved swiftly on hearing of a player he admired from his playing days had been de-registered from Witham’s squad last week.

“We have not had many options upfront behind Terry Rymer, with James Baker having established himself at centre-half.

“Going forward to the final stage of the season, bringing in someone of Luke’s calibre will strengthen and lift the squad.

“He is of good pedigree and has always scored a lot of goals, and hopefully, with a run of games, we can get the best out of him.”

Callander’s 10 goals in 18 appearances for Chelsmford City were a big contributing factor in ensuring they survived in the Vanarama Conference South last season.

His move to the Clarets had come after hitting 19 goals in 25 appearances for Heybridge Swifts earlier in the 2013/14 season, a campaign in which they finished third to earn a play-off spot.

Callendar, who bagged a hat-trick against AFC’s Suffolk rivals Bury Town only in December in a 4-1 Witham win, will not be eligible for Tuesday’s Suffolk Premier Cup semi-final against lower-league Whitton United at Needham Market FC (7.45pm), but will be set for his Yellows debut in Saturday’s trip to Thurrock (3pm).

* For live updates of Tuesday’s county cup semi-final, log on to the ‘live sport’ tab accessed via the sport tab.