Skipper Laurence Harvey fears he could be out for the rest of Herne Bay’s Isthmian Premier survival bid this season.

The influential centre-back sustained a broken cheekbone inside the first 15 minutes of Saturday’s 3-1 home defeat to fifth-placed Enfield after a collision with a visiting player.

Harvey was stretchered off at Winch’s Field before being taken to hospital by an ambulance.

He’s since been recovering and will return for a check-up with a specialist to see if surgery is required today.

Asked how long he’ll be out for, the 32-year-old replied: “Almost certainly for the remainder of the season now.

“But I’ll know more on Thursday and will go from there.”

Harvey has experience already with the injury, having fractured the other cheekbone while at Canterbury City.

He said: “This is the second time I’ve fractured my cheek - I fractured the other cheek in 2019 while playing for Canterbury and had surgery on that occasion.

“So I’m drawing on that experience and will cross each bridge as it comes.”

Harvey praised the team's head of medical Georgina Dean for her support after he had sustained the injury against Enfield.

He recalled: “I remember the collision, the treatment I received at the ground, in the ambulance and at hospital.

“I’m very grateful for everyone who helped me on Saturday, in particular our sports therapist, Georgina, who travelled with me to hospital.

“We’re really lucky to have her.”

Harvey has improved after a tough weekend.

“I am getting better each day,” he said.

“The first 48 hours weren’t great as I was pretty concussed.

“But I’m feeling more myself each day and trying to stay positive.”

Herne Bay lost to Enfield despite striker Marcel Barrington’s first-half penalty.

They remain fourth-bottom, two points from Kingstonian and safety, ahead of this Saturday’s trip to Hastings.

Harvey said: “The belief is definitely still there.

“Personally, I’m gutted I won’t be able to help out on the pitch, but we have a strong squad and great togetherness within the team.

“So there is definitely a lot of belief we can get the results to help us stay up.”

Harvey still intends to be at matches before the end of the campaign - as he continues an unusual tradition with team-mate and close friend Jack Parter.

He said: “I’ll be at as many games as I can from now until the end of the season.

“I will be supporting them from the sidelines plus Parts needs me to supply him with his pre-match rice cakes each game - so I can’t let him down!”

Harvey is the second Bay player to be ruled out for the rest of the season after young forward Kymani Thomas broke his tibia and fibula against Horsham in early February.