Dover manager Chris Kinnear has been hit hard by injuries ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup first round clash against League 2 Morecambe at Crabble.

Captain Craig Stone (ankle) has already been ruled out while winger Christian Nanetti (ankle) is unlikely to play and midfielder Barry Cogan (hamstring) is also a doubt.

Nanetti and Cogan both picked up their injuries in the Kent Senior Cup defeat against Folkestone Invicta at Crabble on Tuesday night.

Kinnear said both will be assessed at training tonight (Thursday) but it wasn’t looking good for either of them.

Meanwhile, Stone broke a bone in his ankle during the Vanarama Conference 2-2 draw at Southport last Saturday and will be out action for 12 weeks, according to Kinnear.

Kinnear said: “It’s so disappointing for Craig. You work so hard to get to play in these FA Cup games and then something like this happens. I do feel for him missing not only this game but all the other games as well.”

While Kinnear had plenty of sympathy for Stone, he added: “That sums up football for you. Someone’s misfortune can open the door for someone else and they will be hungry to take it.

“Sean (Francis) came on for Stoney at Southport and did an impressive job at the heart of the defence with Connor (Essam) switching to right-back.

"That could be the case against Morecambe but we’ll just see how the rest of the week pans out.”

Read the full story in the Mercury