BRIAN HUGHES is hoping the return of striker Nat Jarvis will kick start Cirencester Town’s season – though he admits frustration that the signing has come two days too late for the club’s FA Cup aspirations.

Jarvis originally joined Cirencester on a dual registration while with Gloucester City, and immediately found his goal-scoring touch with four in six games.

He continued the rich vein of form when scoring two vital winning international goals for Antigua & Barbuda in the Caribbean Cup.

During his absence Cirencester, who had scored five and six goals on two occasions when Nat played up front, struggled in front of goal. And with Gloucester City refusing to let Nat become cup-tied, Shortwood United dumped the Centurions out of the FA Cup on Tuesday when in 120 minutes of replay action they again could not find the net.

Jarvis has now decided to leave the Tigers and has joined Cirencester Town on a permanent basis. He is expected to go straight into the side that entertains Chesham in the Southern Premier league on Saturday.

“Nat had to decide what was the best move for his career – stay with us and play every game or go back to Gloucester for a better standard of football, but not be guaranteed a start,” said Hughes.

“I talked to Nat’s dad this week and he was saying how much his son was enjoying himself with us and how much we had done for him, which was great to hear.

“Selfishly, I hope Nat continues to rip teams apart and scores lots of goals for us but I know that if he does we will soon be waving him goodbye as he finds full-time football somewhere.”

The manager admitted that when Jarvis is away at the Caribbean Cup next month he will be recruiting temporary cover up front.

“The way we set up to play, we have proved that psychologically it makes a difference to have someone leading the line,” said Hughes.

“We can’t rely on our back five to keep us in the game. It’s not just about Nat scoring, my midfield players have got to chip in more goals then they have been.”

Hughes admits that there will be some collateral damage as a result of the Jarvis move.

“I was already a little over budget, and I am oversubscribed in some areas, so I am going to have to move one or two players on.

“Going out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle was massive blow to us because we really could have done with some of that prize money.

“Who knows whether we would have beaten Shortwood with Nat in the side. What I do know is that we missed a lot of chances.

“I thought Shortwood were magnificent over the two games against us, although the referee’s decision not to send off Jake Lee for what looked a last-man, red card situation was a game-changer.

“Even then I thought the game was heading for penalties after extra time which would have been a lottery as both keepers had brilliant games on the night.

“But having gone down to 10 men (former Shortwood player Mark Pritchett was sent off) we were drained when they got their late goal and there was no way back.”

Captain and right back Shayne Anson serves the first game of a three-match ban against Chesham on Saturday but hopefully he will be back before Pritchett starts his identical suspension.