Hythe captain Craig Cloke has been ruled out for several months with a broken leg.

Cloke has missed Town’s last few games with what was thought to be an ankle injury - but the problem’s worse than manager Tim Dixon first feared.

Dixon said: "He’s got a hairline fracture of the fibula and he’ll be out for a few months. It didn’t get picked up on the X-ray at first.

"Someone like Craig gives us so much, he’s our skipper and he’s played at a good standard. He’s been around for a long time and he’s well-respected, so he brings a lot to the table."

The bad news about Cloke comes at a time when second-bottom Hythe are struggling for results in Ryman League Division 1 South.

They needed a 93rd-minute Jordan Wells goal to draw 2-2 with bottom side Walton Casuals at Reachfields on Tuesday after John Walker had been sent-off for two bookable offences.

Hythe are away to Ebbsfleet United in the FA Cup second qualifying round on Saturday.