BROMLEY have signed Ben Thompson on a permanent deal from Stevenage ahead of their FA Cup third-round tie against Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Sunday.
Thompson, 29, initially joined Andy Woodman’s Ravens on loan last summer and has scored three goals in 22 appearances for the League Two side.
Bromley are just six points off the play-off places in their first-ever season in the Football League.
“I’m delighted to have signed for this brilliant club,” Thompson said on Bromley’s website.
“I’ve enjoyed every minute of it so far and we’ve been successful in the games we’ve had so far. Hopefully that can continue for the rest of the season.
“I’m looking forward to the future.”
Meanwhile, there could be a glimmer of hope for Bromley on Tyneside, as arguably the Premier League’s best striker this season, Aleander Isak, is a doubt.
Isak went off in the second half after scoring in Newcastle’s 2-0 EFL Cup semi-final first-leg win against Arsenal at the Emirates on Tuesday night.
Isak has scored fifteen goals this season, fourteen of them in his last fifteen games.
“We think he’s pretty good,” Howe said in Friday’s pre-match press conference. “He is seeing his physio at the moment. I’ve given him a couple of days rest, but he is in a good place and will report back tomorrow. I will have a good look at him.
“It doesn’t look like a serious injury, not from the initial assessments. But fingers crossed.
“We would’ve probably involved him in this game in some way, but with what has happened, he’d be given this game to rest and get himself right for the future schedule that we have.”
Bruno Guimaraes and Fabian Schar return from suspension for the Magpies.
Howe said: “They could play. I’ve got to get the balance of the team right. It’s not a simple team to select. I’ve got to make sure we are competitive.
“I am trying to look at all the players individually and make the right calls.
“But the challenge for us is, if we are making more than three or four changes, then they have to gel together as a team and that’s always the big thing. But the way we train and the way we prepare, I don’t see that being an issue.
“Then it’s up to the players to preform in the way they are capable of. I think it’s an opportunity for whoever does play to show their own quality and what they can add to the team.”
