Ex-Southampton, AFC Bournemouth, Exeter and Trinidad & Tobago international joins Horndean - and Tierney's back following Baffins release

The Deans have recruited former England under-17 and Trinidad & Tobago international Jake Thomson while Tommy Tierney has returned to the club following his Baffins Milton Rovers release.

And both could be in line to feature for the Deans in their FA Cup extra preliminary round curtain-raiser at division-lower Bemerton Heath on Tuesday, as well as Saturday's final pre-season friendly at home to Hawks.

Thomson arrives after three years out of the game having fallen out of love with football.

The Portsmouth-born midfielder - who made 14 Championship appearances for Southampton - has been training with the club throughout pre-season, originally in a bid to get fit.

Thomson has played a part in each of Horndean's friendlies and has done enough to secure a move to Five Heads Park.

It's an intriguing turnaround for the 31-year-old who dropped out of the game completely following a short spell with fellow Wessex Leaguers Fareham Town.

Thomson had previously had spells with AFC Portchester, Bognor and Hawks after dropping out of the pro game, where he also appeared for Exeter, Bournemouth, Cheltenham and Torquay.

The former Fratton Park season ticket holder was once head boy at Priory School and helped Portsmouth, coached by Louis Bell, win the English Schools under-15s title in 2004.

Meanwhile, Tierney returns to the club after the briefest of spells back at Wessex rivals Baffins.

Having initially left Rovers to sign for Horndean in the summer, Tierney returned to Baffins earlier this month - only to be released in the wake of a 5-0 friendly drubbing by US Portsmouth.

Birmingham is delighted to have the duo on board.

‘We’ve got Tommy back,' he said. ‘Obviously, for whatever reason, him and Baffins had a falling out, it’s got nothing to do with me.

‘We’ve also signed Jake Thomson, he hasn’t played for three years and fell out of love with the game.

‘He’s done ever so well, he’s lost three stone in three months.

‘Jake’s done well. He turned up in pre-season with one of my players, Dan Sackman, and asked if he could train to get fit.

‘He’s trained, he’s got fit and been involved in every pre-season game.

‘I had a good chat to him last Saturday and asked him exactly what he wanted from Horndean.'

Birmingham intends to push Thomson as hard as he can in order to try to get the best out of him.

'Jake’s 31 years of age, he should be in his prime, he just said he fell out of love with the game and wants to get back involved,' he explained.

‘We’re hoping that these next three or four years could be enjoyable for him.

‘I’ve agreed to help him, push him all the way and see what happens.

'He’s come back a totally different character and a totally different player.

‘I feel as though we can (bring out the best in him).

‘He’s a popular lad in the changing room, we all know he’s a talented player, we’ve just got to get him going again.'