Dartford winger Ryan Hayes is no closer to returning from the knee injury which has already kept him out for almost two months.

The 28-year-old last featured for the Darts at Woking on November 12 and they’ve lost eight straight league games in his absence.

Dartford boss Tony Burman had hoped to have him available by now but Hayes’ recovery hasn’t gone to plan.

Burman said: "Ryan isn’t responding to treatment as well as he should be doing.

"I’m not sure people realise how big a loss he is. He’s been excellent for us, for the last seven or eight years.

"People criticise him sometimes but when you haven’t got a player of that calibre (you miss him)."

Hayes, now in his 10th season at Dartford, is three appearances short of 400 for the north Kent club. With 80 goals, he sits 14th on their all-time scorers list.

Burman said: "I’ve stated before that Ryan will always be at the club as long as I’m here.

"He’s got his faults but he’s been a fantastic player for us and sometimes I wish he’d been given a chance to play full-time football.

"But it’s to our benefit (that he hasn’t) because without him, we wouldn't have got to where we are today."