Margate midfielder Montel Agyemang breaks tibia in 2-1 Isthmian Premier defeat to Cheshunt as attention switches to FA Cup action

Midfielder Montel Agyemang faces months out injured and Margate manager Reece Prestedge concedes he’ll be a massive loss.

Agyemang was stretchered off towards the end of last Friday night’s 2-1 Isthmian Premier home defeat to Cheshunt with a broken tibia.

Prestedge said: “Obviously, an injury itself is gutting - let alone someone breaking their leg.

“I have had chats with Monts. He’s in good spirits.

“But he’s going to be out.

“He’s a big player so we’re going to miss him.”

The 26-year-old only rejoined Gate for a second spell this summer but is unlikely to be fully fit until 2024.

“They’re saying four to five months,” revealed Prestedge, whose miserable Bank Holiday double-header was compounded by a 2-0 derby defeat at Folkestone on Monday.

“He had surgery on Monday and I’ll assess with him and see what the doctors say.

“Hopefully, he can be back by the business end of the season.”

Gate were already 2-1 behind by the time Agyemang came off against the Hertfordshire outfit, with player-coach Phil Roberts’ third competitive goal of the season levelling on 72 minutes - only for the visitors to win it nine minutes later.

Prestedge said: “We definitely should have got something from that game. Second half, we had so many balls in the box, so many chances.

“But it’ll come.”

As well as Invicta, Prestedge’s troops have also already faced two teams relegated into the division this season in Cheshunt and Concord, along with newly-promoted Whitehawk, and have six points from five league fixtures.

Prestedge said: “It’s very early stages so there’s no panic stations from us.

“We just want to nail down the mistakes as early as we can.”

Gate visit Southern League Premier South Hendon this Saturday in the FA Cup First Qualifying Round.