New England Revolution have answered a distress call from Bermuda Hogges and loaned them their third choice goalkeeper Zack Simmons.

The six-foot-three shot stopper has joined Hogges as emergency cover for this weekend's back-to-back matches in the US with Nigel Burgess still unavailable due to injury.

Simmons, 23, signed for the Revs during pre-season on a developmental contract and has yet to play for the MLS giants.

He previously starred for the University of Massachusetts who he helped reach the national semi-finals in 2007.

Club secretary Paul Scope, who has close links to the Revs through their 'keeper coach Gwynne Williams, facilitated Simmons' temporary move to the Hogges, but the gargantuan gloveman is unlikely to start straight away considering the recent good form of Jason Williams.

Coach Kyle Lightbourne said he was relieved that Hogges would be travelling with a fully stocked 'keeper department and was delighted to have drafted in a player of Simmons' calibre.

"I'm very happy to have the goalkeeper department taken care of and thankful to the Revs for helping us out at such short notice," said Lightbourne, whose first choice 'keeper Timmy Figureido has been ruled out for the season with knee ligament damage.

"If you play for the Revs you must be of a pretty good standard and we couldn't afford to travel with just one 'keeper.

"If Jason had got injured the whole trip would have been ruined. Jason has kept a couple of clean sheets recently and has been playing well but we desperately needed cover."

Confidence in Hogges' camp will have never been so high ahead of an away trip and Lightbourne has urged his players to build on their impressive start to the season by picking up their first points on the road.

Although Keston Lewis and Johnny Ball are both unable to travel, Lightbourne has a near full-strength squad available for Hogges' matches against Wilmington Hammerheads tomorrow and Charlotte Eagles on Saturday.

"The squad feels confident and we've had a little break since our last game," he said. "We must pick up our first away points of the season on this trip and remain in the play-off mix."

Should they beat Hammerheads and other results go in their favour, Hogges would go second in the USL-D2. They play Hammerheads at Legion Sports Complex at 8 p.m. (Bermuda time) and Eagles at Charlotte Christian Restart Field at 9 p.m. (Bermuda time).