Sutton United player-coach Steve McKimm is certain boss Paul Doswell will move heaven and earth to secure the services of on-loan striker Andy Forbes.

The Woking frontman sees his three-month spell at Gander Green Lane expire next week having scored eight goals in 15 appearances for United.

Doswell boosted his squad last week by bringing in fellow Cards midfielder Francis Quarm on-loan until the end of the season.

And McKimm says the manager would love to see former Eastleigh striker Forbes do the same.

“Andy is some you’d like to keep. He has added goals and experience to us since he has been here,” he said.

“If he goes back and sits on the bench it will do him no favours, but that is the nature of loan agreements. It depends on what Woking want to do.

“I’m sure the gaffer and Alan Payne want him to stay until the end of the season, but it is a case of waiting to see what is best for him.

“All a player wants to do is play regularly and he has done that here.”

Midfielder Tom Davis and forward Bradley Woods-Garness gave their side a 2-0 lead against Tooting & Mitcham on Saturday.

But the Terrors pegged them back to a 2-2 draw with a late equaliser, and McKimm insists Sutton - with the likes of Davis, Forbes and Quarm in their midst - can push on in the new year.

“We’ve played a lot better football this year, but we have developed a resolute element to our game where we are determined not to be beaten,” he added.

“Tom has got a few winners medals from other clubs and has that experience, like a lot of players in our squad.

“We’ve got some big names and when it comes to the nitty gritty you need them to step up and they have.”

A win at Horsham will see Sutton with 45 points at the half-way stage and on course to the lift the Ryman Premier League title.

“If you average two points a game and don’t win the league you have to count yourselves unlucky,” added McKimm.

“We were a bit disappointed with the Tooting result, but we have been on the right side of those before. It is another point and another game unbeaten.”

*A second-string Sutton United side crashed out of the Surrey Senior Cup on Monday following a 1-0 defeat to Molesey.

Sutton’s next three games: Jan 8 Horsham (a), 11 Canvey Island (a), 15 Concord Rangers (h).