Manager Andy Hessenthaler has dipped in to the loan market following an injury crisis ahead of tonight’s league fixture against Maidenhead United.

With nine senior players unavailable through injury and sickness, Payne has been drafted in to bolster the squad.

The versatile midfield player can play across the middle and drop in to defence if called upon.

Payne joined Fleet in June 2017 after spending the previous season at Blackpool.

The locally-born midfielder figured 44 times and played for the victorious Tangerines in their League Two play-off final at Wembley against Exeter City before arriving at the Fleet.

Capable of operating in a number of roles in a largely central midfield berth, he began his career at Gillingham where he played more than 100 games in a five-year spell and earned the club’s young player of the year award in his first season.

He had three years at Peterborough United from 2013 following a £750,000 switch from the Gills, playing with Posh in the Championship and figuring in the League One play-offs in 2013/14 and he also spent six months on loan at Leyton Orient in 2015/16.

A knee complaint disrupted his first season at the club, but he nevertheless made 25 appearances.

Payne has started two games this season and most recently featured in Fleet’s 1-0 victory against Hartlepool United.

Assistant-manager Ben Strevens, the 38-year-old former Dagenham & Redbridge, Wycombe Wanderers and Brentford striker, has also been registered with the league.