Whitstable Town dealt big blows with key midfielders Connor Wilkins and Mikey Dalton likely to miss the start of their season through injury

Whitstable have been dealt big blows with two key midfielders likely to miss the start of their season through injury.

Connor Wilkins, who hobbled off in their historic FA Vase victory at Wembley in May, is facing a lengthy lay-off while Mikey Dalton is expected to be sidelined for around a month.

Whitstable boss Jamie Coyle confirmed: “Mikey Dalton has had an operation on his ankle and Connor Wilkins has had some bad news.

“He did his ACL in the Vase final so he’s not available.

“We looked at it and only two players that started at Wembley (goalkeeper Dan Colmer and skipper Jake McIntyre) started our first friendly against Sheppey Sports.

“We have had some good performances, even though we have missed some key players.

“We won’t get carried away with the results because it’s more about the performances. Some real positives are starting to come through - but we don’t have too much time.

“We have only got three weeks before the start of our season.”

While the news of the absences of Wilkins and Dalton are major blows, the Oystermen have one ready-made replacement in signing James Miles.

Coyle added: “Connor and Mikey Dalton are huge misses. We have just been really unfortunate.

“Connor did it at Wembley and he’s only just had the scans back.

“With Dalts, we’re hoping he will be back in four to six weeks. But we have got James Miles, who has come in from Erith Town.

"He has looked really bright in pre-season.

“It’s an opportunity for other players to take those shirts.”

Vastly-experienced forward Dean Grant and defender Finn O’Mara shouldn’t be out for much longer after missing Whitstable’s first two pre-season friendlies - last Wednesday’s 3-1 victory at Sheppey Sports and Saturday’s 3-0 win at Sheppey United.

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