YORK City have signed left-back Sam Muggleton from National League rivals Eastleigh.

The 21-year-old defender is eligible to face bottom-of-the-table Southport tomorrow night and could get his chance with Alex Whittle still suffering from a tight hamstring.

Ex-Leicester City academy player Muggleton is the son of former Stoke and Chesterfield keeper Carl and started out in senior football with East Midlands Counties League outfit Holwell Sports.

He went on to become an apprentice with Gillingham, where he made his debut at the age of 17 as the Kent club were crowned 2013 Sky Bet League Two champions despite a 3-2 final-day defeat at Burton.

Muggleton later moved on to Barnet and racked up 16 appearances as the Bees clinched the 2014/15 National League title.

Having played 17 times for the North London outfit this term, he moved on to Eastleigh for an undisclosed fee in January, but has been limited to just five outings and only two in the first XI.

Muggleton, like any other addition made after the semi-final stage of the FA Trophy, will not be eligible to play at Wembley on May 21, but Mills confirmed that he could look to recruit again before Thursday’s transfer deadline.

“I’d maybe like to bring in another player as well and I’ve made inquiries about a couple that we’ve not had any luck with, but we’ll wait and see,” the City chief explained.

Contrary to the two-legged tussle against National League leaders Lincoln, Mills’ team will be favourites to defeat Southport, but the City chief does not feel his players will be fazed by the extra pressure, reasoning: “It’s another big game, but we’re thriving on that.

“We will be expected to win, which we haven’t been able to say too much this season, but that won’t affect the players because they know what they’re capable of. They don’t wilt and grow ten-feet tall when they cross that white line.”

Nor is Mills concerned by the toll two hours of football might have taken on his players, following the extra-time encounter at Sincil Bank.

“I’m not worried about the fitness of the players,” he insisted. “It’s more of a mental thing than a physical thing from now on.

“If you’re not fit in March, you never will be and the players have been worked hard on the training field, so we’ve reaped the rewards from that.”

Mills went on to declare that there would be no question of him banning all talk of Wembley during the crucial league run-in.

“The weekend was a lovely one for all of us and I will be using Wembley as a positive as much as I can from now on to get the points we need,” he countered. “We won’t be forgetting about Wembley, because I want people to keep those smiles on their faces during these last ten league games.”

Yan Klukowski (thigh) is still not available for tomorrow night’s game.

Former City striker Richard Brodie is set to feature for the visitors after rejoining Southport last week, but Mills preferred not to comment on the 29-year-old forward’s goal threat.