Hythe goalkeeper Kieron Mann is facing a lengthy lay-off, with boss Scott Porter fearing the worst.

The 24-year-old, who has been a virtual ever-present since arriving at the club, is due to have a scan on suspected cruciate knee ligament damage early next month after being carried off at Whitehawk on November 12.

Mann’s absence will give Paul Egan a chance to stake his claim for a place, and Porter says he has every confidence in him, ahead of Saturday's game against Sittingbourne in Ryman League Division 1 South.

The Town boss said: "Paul has come back after a bad injury himself but has trained hard and I have told him the shirt is his to lose."

Porter was delighted with the 2-1 win against Erith Town in the Kent Senior Cup on Tuesday night, which earns the club a trip to Ebbsfleet in the quarter-finals early in the new year.

He said: "We had Brendon Cass back after seven weeks and Tom Parkinson returned after 10 weeks out, so there were a lot of plusses to take out of the game. Tasser Hussein and Kane Rice also got game time and we played with good tempo and pace.

"The chance of playing Ebbsfleet was a big incentive to win and we will look forward to going there, as you always want to test yourselves against the best around."

Porter, though, still has worries about his team’s league form, aahead of the trip to Bourne Park. He admitted: "We concede goals too easily and have got to concentrate more when we are in front.

"We are 16 games into the season and the players should have learned by now what to expect, I certainly have.

"We analyse things after each game and work on them in training but then don’t carry it into games on Saturdays. Whether it’s a lack of concentration or ability, I don’t know.

"We now have plenty of depth in the squad and while it’s pleasing for me to have a selection dilemma, it also gives a few players a kick-up the backside, knowing they have to work hard to keep the shirt."

Caption: Paul Egan will play in goal for Hythe against Sittingbourne