by Alex Hoad

Maidstone United manager Jay Saunders faces a potential goalkeeping crisis ahead of this weekend’s trip to Hythe Town after first-choice stopper Charlie Mitten was ruled out for the season with a hip injury.

Mitten has not played since early November but news of a tear in his hip joint only emerged this week.

Kelvin Jack and Marc Powell filled in between the posts until Daren Hawkes joined on loan from Gillingham in December.

Saunders (pictured) said: "It’s bad news about Charlie. It looks as though he’s done for the season. We have got Daren for another two games but I’ll have to talk to (Gills boss) Andy Hessenthaler.

"We have to be careful because they have a 24-hour call-back on him. It’s difficult too because Kelvin hasn’t played since we last had him."

There was further bad news on the injury front when a scan revealed defender Gavin Greenfield will be out for a while longer because his knee injury is actually a fractured knee-cap.

The Stones travel to Reachfields on Saturday on the back of a six-match unbeaten run and just three points behind the leaders in Ryman League, Division 1 South. Saunders, however, warned they face a tough challenge.

He said: "They are doing well and ever since the 8-0 defeat at Folkestone they have put a few wins together and scored a few goals in some derby games.

"We beat them at home earlier in the season too so they will want revenge for that. Hythe have a few ex-Maidstone players and the fact it is a derby too will make it even harder."