A FREAK injury to Dover Athletic's new star striker Jimmy Dryden now looks much less serious than first feared.

Initial reports suggested Dryden could be missing for three months with knee damage, thus dealing a hammer blow to Dover’s promotion chances.

But Dryden is already able to put weight on the leg and could return to action within a fortnight.

With no fixture on Saturday, Dryden might miss just one game – Tuesday evening’s trip to Leatherhead.

Whites boss Clive Walker said: "They put the knee in plaster straight away to immobilise it. Once that comes off we’ll get a rough idea of what damage has been done and how long it’s going to be."

Contrary to rumours that he sustained the injury through skiing, Dryden says he slipped while carrying luggage on his holiday. Dryden himself was quite upbeat about his prospects, saying: "There is swelling but it’s nothing too serious. I’m coming out of plaster on Monday."

The need for him to be fit is even more important as Carl Rook is reported to have left Crabble and joined Horsham.

Meanwhile, the Kent Senior Cup quarter-final away to Gravesend & Northfleet has now been arranged for Monday, February 6.

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