Whitstable Town boss Lee Martin describes squad as like A&E department ahead of FA Trophy home tie against Egham Town this weekend

Manager Lee Martin has described Whitstable Town’s squad as like an A&E department amid the club’s early-season injury crisis.

The Oystermen suffered a 4-1 FA Cup first qualifying round defeat at Hanworth Villa last weekend where Harrison Pont hobbled off and left Whitstable to play the final minutes with 10 players.

Defensive midfielder Pont, who has been filling in at centre-back, joins a long line of players already on the treatment table.

Martin rested a lot of his remaining fit bodies for the Kent Senior Cup clash at Margate that finished in a 1-0 defeat in midweek.

“Football can change in a heartbeat,” said Martin.

“It’s not the end of the world at this moment in time, we’re just focusing on getting players back. We still have a big squad and a good enough squad.

“But the schedule is ridiculous. It’s Saturday-to-Tuesday-to-Saturday every week - and we don’t have a break!

“We’re trying to get players up to speed and I think, with all clubs, we’re all in the same boat. But it’s like an A&E for us at this moment.

"We had Margate in the Kent Senior Cup and we used that as a bit of a youth-team fixture.”

To make matters worse, among the longer-term absentees are the Oystermen’s more experienced players, including defenders Ian Gayle and Tom Hanfrey, midfielder Tom Beere and forward Tom Derry.

“Beero got some bad news around his ACL,” revealed Martin, working hard to strengthen his depleted ranks. “Gayley has been out with a hip flexor issue.

“Tom Derry has just been told another four to six weeks with his knee and Tom Hanfrey did his knee against AFC Portchester.

“I’m gutted - and gutted for the players. The other boys are a bit lighter in terms of their diagnosis.

“But we’re talking about my captain and vice-captain