Unsettled Kingstonian striker James Rose's future at the club has been thrown into doubt after boss Stuart McIntyre told him he had to fight for his place.

The 21-year-old, who has netted only twice this campaign, has not featured in the past three games and is struggling to recapture his goalscoring form of last season.

Rose has told McIntyre he is not happy being on the bench and the pressure for starting places up front is likely to increase with the arrival of legendary 43-year-old striker Dave Leworthy.

But the former Fleet Town player, who missed Ks' 2-1 defeat against his old club on Saturday, has so far not responded to his manager's attempts at a reconciliation.

"James says he has an injury at the back of his knee. It is not an injury that has been assessed by our medical people, it is one he has told me about," McIntyre said.

"I have called him but, so far, he has not returned my calls. We will have a discussion and see where it goes.

"I don't expect a player to be happy when he is not starting. I want players to be hungry and fight for their shirt."

There was plenty of that on display as Ks ground out a 2-1 victory at Whyteleafe on Tuesday night.

In a dour game on a difficult pitch, first-half goals from Tommy Moorhouse and Dean Lodge were enough to give McIntyre's men the spoils, despite a late consolation from Ryan Rummery.

The victory moved Ks up to sixth in the Ryman Division One South table and continued their solid form on the road this season, with three wins and a draw from six matches. But they will need to start picking up points at home if they are to push for the play-offs come the end of the season.

On Saturday, striker Tony Reid gave Ks a dream start on when he converted Mazin Ahmad's cross after only five minutes.

But two breakaway goals sealed a miserable afternoon, as first Nathan Smart ran the length of the field to slot past Luke Garrard and then Will Salmon rifled home at the far post with 10 minutes remaining.

McIntyre refused to blame a late venue switch to Hampton & Richmond's Beveree Stadium or the current crisis over training facilities for the narrow defeat.

The club have been forced out of their Hawker Centre training ground due to a dispute over floodlighting, but three alternative options have been identified by Kingston Borough Council.

Ks have been using a Goals Soccer Centre facility in New Malden as a stopgap, with a decision over a move expected to be rubber-stamped this week.

"Both goals on Saturday came from breakaways. Obviously, that is something we need to work on but it is difficult when we train on five-a-side pitches," he said.

Ks visit AFC Sudbury on Saturday in the first round of the FA Trophy.