Boss Andy Drury admits there could be further player movement - in and out - at Folkestone this week.

It has been a mixed start to the Isthmian Premier season for Invicta, who have taken seven points from four league matches so far this term while they await the league’s decision on last month’s abandoned game at Wingate & Finchley.

They were knocked out of the FA Cup at the first qualifying round stage at Ramsgate, going down 3-1 last Saturday. Forward Dan Smith scored in the second period after midfielder Eze Ebuzoeme was sent off in the early stages for a professional foul.

It was the second time in seven days Folkestone had played with a numerical disadvantage, having had midfielders Dean Rance and Amadou Kassarate dismissed in a 1-0 league loss against Cray Valley.

Drury hasn’t seen enough from some of his fringe players when they have been given chances so far ahead of Saturday’s home match against Billericay.

“There might be one or two ‘outs’ and one or two ‘ins’ this week - it’s got to be done,” he said.

“We’re looking for performances from people when they’re not in the team and we haven’t had enough of it, in my opinion, so we’ll see what’s out there.

Report: Ramsgate 3-1 Folkestone

Drury: We kind of killed ourselves

“If we can get one or two in this week, just to kind of strengthen us, we’ll do that.

“It’s disappointing to lose Eze for a game. It’s a big game against Billericay - another really good team - and we’re saying that week-in, week-out.

“We have had a really tough start in the league and even drawing Ramsgate in the cup isn’t ideal. But we have got a really strong group.

“We’ll dust ourselves down, work hard in training and look to get results this weekend.”

With summer signing Ebuzoeme the latest Invicta midfielder set to serve a suspension, Drury defended the decision to send midfielder Sam Blackman and defender Joel Odeniran to Hythe and Herne Bay, respectively, in order to get more first-team action.

Drury, who refused to be overly-critical of Ebuzoeme for being sent off at Southwood, said: “Joel is a centre-half or left-back. He needs games and he needs fitness.

“He needs to progress his development at an Isthmian South East club.

“Blacky wasn’t fit. He’s not fit enough to start or come on for a sustained period of time for us yet so I have no regrets over that in any way.

“They need to get games before they come back in.”

But injured midfielder Jack Jebb is closing in on a potential return to fitness this month.

“We’re still waiting for Jebby to come back,” Drury said.

“Hopefully, he’s only a couple of weeks away and will be available for the Hendon game (on September 21).”

As Invicta prepare to return to league action, both they and weekend visitors Billericay - led by Gary McCann - harbour ambitions of being in the upper echelons of the table this campaign.

Drury said: “He’s another good manager and has another good squad. He’s got a heck of a lot of attacking options.

“But we have had six games and the only ones we have lost have been when we have gone down to 10 or nine men. Even with nine men against Cray Valley, we only lost 1-0.

“So, we’re a really good side. We work really hard, have good desire in the squad and we have got goals in us, as well.

"I think it will be a good game.

“If we’re at it and can keep 11 men on the pitch, I’m sure we’ll have a chance.”

Drury set out for a top-five Folkestone finish this summer.

While that remains the goal, the 40-year-old former Football League midfielder knows from his playing days it can take time to build a squad strong enough to challenge for promotion.

He said: “That’s where we want to be.

“We have put together a team that we feel like are capable of getting in the play-offs.

“Sometimes, it doesn’t always happen in the first season. Sometimes, it takes two years to get out of a league, which is my experience from when I’ve been promoted (as a player).

“But we’re going to push for the play-offs.”

Odeniran made his first Herne Bay start in their 2-0 weekend FA Cup first qualifying round win at Ashford Town (Middlesex) while Blackman’s first two Hythe starts resulted in 4-0 defeats.