Six-goal Gil Carvalho could be sidelined for the rest of Herne Bay’s games this calendar year in a blow to their Isthmian South East play-off hopes

Gil Carvalho could be sidelined for the rest of Herne Bay’s games this calendar year in a blow to their play-off hopes.

Six-goal winger Carvalho is out with an injured hand and, having not played for Isthmian South East Bay since November 11, he’s now discovered he will need an operation to solve the problem.

However, versatile players Bola Dawodu and Dan Carrington have returned for Bay and boss Steve Lovell had more positive news on the injury front.

“Bola is back,” said Lovell. “Dan Carrington is back and Archie Burnett is not far away, although Tom Hanfrey is perhaps a couple of weeks away. We still have got two or three out.

“Gil Carvalho is going to be out for about four or five weeks. He’s broken a bone in his hand and needs an operation on it.

“That’s a big loss. He’s been one of our more consistent players and we do miss him. But that’s football.

“We will get on with it and, hopefully, we can get somebody in to replace him until he’s ready.”

Herne Bay were edged out 1-0 at home by Cray Valley with striker Kyrell Lisbie scoring in the 20th minute last weekend.

“It was a good game,” Lovell reflected. “We played well, especially in the second half.

“We had enough chances in the second half to have won the game - but it was a good performance.

“First half, I think they had the better of it but we hit the bar and had a couple of other efforts that were just off target. But we definitely bossed the second half.

“They’re a very good side, well organised, and you don’t go that far in the FA Cup if you’re not a good side.

“It was disappointing not to get anything out of the game.”

After also being beaten by leaders Ramsgate by the same scoreline at Winch’s Field in August, Lovell has urged his players to have more faith