MARGATE striker Jean-Michele Sigere will not be on the sidelines for as long as was orginally feared.

There were concerns Sigere had sustained cruciate ligament damage when he was injured against Exeter on Saturday.

But, after two consultations with a top specialist and an MRI scan, it has emerged that he will not need an opertion and should be fit in about a month.

Meanwhile, Margate manager Chris Kinnear says there is no need to panic just because his side are still without a win after three matches of the new Nationwide Conference campaign.

Saturday’s 1-0 home defeat against Exeter was the Gate’s second at the Hoverspeed Stadium inside five days and left them in the bottom four.

They continue their programme away to bottom club Tamworth on Saturday before entertaining Stevenage Borough on Bank Holiday Monday.

Kinnear knows they have got to start making more of their chances. He said: “There’s potential in the squad to score goals, but at the moment it’s not going for us."

Kinnear admitted that he would like to get that first win under his belt, but pointed out that Margate actually made a worse start the year they clinched promotion to the Conference from the Dr Martens League's premier division.

“We’re certainly not panicking but we do need to work hard to improve the situation,” he added.