Shaymen defender set for another spell on the sidelines

The defender, who last played for Town in their FA Trophy final win at Wembley in May, had worked his way back to fitness from an ankle injury and was on the bench for the first time this season at Harrogate last month.

But he has a growth on his heel which will need to be removed by surgery next week, which is expected to keep him out of action for a further six to eight weeks.

Town boss Billy Heath said: “It’s a big blow. he would have been in the squad on Saturday.

“Danny Hone is still two weeks away so we’re very thin on the ground defensively.

“He’s worked very hard on his fitness.

“He just felt something nipping on the back of his ankle and we thought it might need an injection.

“We sent him for a scan and found he had a growth there.”

Josh Wilde will be fit for Saturday’s FA Cup first round clash at Dagenham and Redbridge despite appearing to injure his shoulder late on against Brackley.

On long-term injury-victim Scott McManus, Heath said: “He saw his surgeon last week and he was pleased with how it’s going.

“He’s where he should be in his recovery but he won’t return until after Christmas.”

Matty Kosylo came through training unscathed on Tuesday and Heath reported he was “looking sharp” and that he will be in the squad on Saturday.