Boss Brady Stone believes new signing Jamie Thurlbourne will add a ‘different dimension’ to the Ely City team.

The former Newmarket Town wideman will come into the Robins’ squad for their Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division clash at Thetford Town on Friday night (7.45pm).

Thurlbourne has actually arrived from Wisbech Town, where a short stay lasted for just one appearance. He is well known to Stone after the two men were team-mates at King’s Lynn Town several years ago.

Stone said: “We’re delighted to have been able to bring Jamie to the club.

“We’ve missed a bit of quality in the final third to compliment our pace and movement. He will bring that and add a different dimension to our team.

“I spoke to Jamie a few weeks ago when he left Newmarket, but he chose to go to Wisbech then, but it clearly didn’t work out there.

“He’s been playing at left-back this season for Newmarket and Wisbech used him there too, but he’ll play further forward for us.

“He scored 20-odd goals and had another 20-odd assists for Newmarket last season. We want him to influence games just as he has done against us in the past.

“Hopefully we can get him enjoying his football again. It will be fantastic if we can hold on to him for next season.”

The trip to Thetford is set to provide City with a first outing in almost a month. They have not played since a February 17 defeat to Wroxham due to a series of postponements.

The latest of those arrived last Saturday when a home fixture against Ipswich Wanderers fell victim to a waterlogged Ellgia Stadium pitch.

And Stone insists his side cannot afford to be caught cold by a Thetford team only five points behind them in the Premier Division standings.

He added: “Thetford is always a very tough place to go - even more so after we’ve gone so long without playing.

“They have had a couple of games since we last played so they will more than likely be a bit sharper than us. I also think they should be a bit higher in the table than they are.

“We need to be disciplined and organised while easing ourselves into the game and hopefully getting a result.”

James Seymour returns after a back problem while Alex Brown has shaken off a groin problem, but brothers Lee and Sam Reed, Sam Goodge and goalkeeper Harry Reynolds are still out. Dual-signed Ben Mayhew will play in goal.

Ely then face a re-arranged Tuesday trip to title-chasing Coggeshall Town for a clash which was controversially postponed last month only minutes before kick-off.