Tonbridge Angels summer signing Noel Leighton facing two months out with ankle injury | Boss Jay Saunders targets National League South play-off place

Tonbridge have suffered a major injury blow going into the new season - but there’s still plenty of optimism at Longmead.

Noel Leighton is expected to miss the opening two months of the National League South campaign with an ankle injury.

Leighton arrived at Longmead after scoring 41 goals for Three Bridges in Isthmian South East last season.

He’d been training well before going over on his ankle in the warm-up before the opening friendly at Corinthian.

The striker, who previously worked with manager Jay Saunders at Margate, broke down on his return and is facing a period out following a scan.

“We’ve ended up losing Noel, which has been a big blow to our plans,” said Saunders.

“He’s had a scan and he’ll see the specialist over the next couple of days and we’ll find out the extent of it.

“But it’s not looking like a quick fix.

“Before he got injured he was doing well and had fitted in well with the boys.

“He missed a few weeks then trained again and looked good, probably what we were missing last year, but then had a setback.

“We’ll find out more but I would say he’ll be out for a minimum of another two months possibly.”

Trevan Robinson, a summer signing from Leatherhead, looks set to start the season opener at home to Weymouth on Saturday (3pm).

He’s settled in well after moving up from Isthmian League football while Saunders is also in the market for another forward.

“Trevan’s done exactly what I expected him to do as a young lad jumping up a couple of levels,” said Saunders.

“He’s done really well but you don’t want to be going into the season relying on one forward.

“Trying to sign a centre-forward is always hard, never mind the week before the season starts.

“It’s something we’re looking at but we’ll see how that