Sutton United full-back Billy Hawes has backed boss Paul Doswell’s claim the return of brother James to the starting line-up could be the key to continued success on the road.

The 22-year-old’s fierce cross led to his side’s winner in Saturday’s 1-0 triumph at Aveley to make it four wins in five games for the Gander Green Lane outfit.

Hawes junior switched to United in the summer from Boreham Wood claiming the chance to play in the same team as his older sibling was too good an opportunity to turn down.

Doswell reckons James Hawes’ recovery from persistent injury brings more balance to the side as he looks to deploy a 4-5-1 formation on a more regular basis away from home.

And his younger brother believes the weekend win was a sign of things to come.

“When you concede goals everyone looks to the defence, but it is a team effort and I think we are all starting to gel. The slight changes we have made are working well,” he said.

“I was gutted when James got injured as I had been looking forward to playing with him and I’m glad he is back.

“Things have gone quite well recently and with him coming in on the left it gives us more balance as a defensive unit. We are looking more solid and creating more of a threat.”