THE tide of injuries that threatens to undermine Gravesend & Northfleet's season shows no signs of relenting with a staggering 11 players unavailable for Saturday's Nationwide Conference match at Halifax.

Manager Andy Ford has already admitted he will be unable to name five substitutes at The Shay and was this week pleading for favours from other clubs in an attempt to make up the numbers.

Paul Sturgess became the latest in a long line of Fleet casualties when he was ruled out for eight weeks with damaged knee ligaments, sustained in Saturday's FA Cup defeat against Margate.

Sturgess joins Francis Duku (broken leg), Justin Skinner (knee ligaments), Aaron Barnett (knee), Nick Burton (ankle), Rob Owen (hamstring) Liam Hatch (knee ligaments), Steve McKimm (pleurisy), Danny Lye (knee ligaments) and Mark Bentley (hamstring) on the injured and sick list while Jimmy Strouts is suspended.

"I hate making excuses about injuries because that's never been my style," said Ford. "But in my years as a player and manager I have never known anything like this."