LUCKLESS Gravesend have been hit by a second cruel injury blow inside a week with the loss of goalkeeper Craig Holloway for the season.

Still reeling from the six-week loss of former Charlton midfielder Stacy Long with a broken metatarsal, manager Liam Daish confessed to being "stunned" on learning that the 22-year-old England semi-professional international had torn ligaments in his right knee and must undergo major surgery.

Daish said: "I said after hearing the extent of Stacy’s injury that I thought Gravesend had been cursed by an injury jinx. Now, after what’s happened to Craig, I’m convinced that’s the case.

"He suffered a reaction after the friendly with Dover. He underwent a scan which revealed the full extent of the injury.

"Craig is devastated and has gone away for a week. It’s a major blow for us but I’m more concerned for his welfare because he’s such a decent lad whose attitude since he came here has been first class."

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