Faversham boss James Collins will face former assistant Steve O’Boyle this weekend - but admits he’s not too sure how much they will be speaking to one another before the game.

O’Boyle started the season with Town as Collins’ No.2 but rejoined Phoenix Sports in November as manager.

O’Boyle will return to Salters Lane when his new-look side take on the Lilywhites in Isthmian South East.

“Boyley is one of my good friends and was with me at Faversham until recently,” said Collins.

“I don’t know what to expect from them. I think he is still trying to find his best team.

“They got a great point at Hythe last weekend (drawing 1-1). I expect them to start picking up points - but, hopefully, not until after this weekend!

“Boyley has helped me so much in my career. I’m so pleased he’s got another manager’s job.

"I look forward to coming up against him.

“We speak every day normally - but I don’t know how much we will speak this week!

“A win would take us to 21 points which, when you consider everything we have had to deal with, is not that bad.”

Collins will, once again, be counting the bodies at training today after their 1-1 draw at Three Bridges, D’Jean Spencer netting for them.

Midfielder Eddie Allsopp will serve the final game of his three-match ban while centre-back Matt Bourne is a doubt.

He returned from a foot injury - only to injure his other foot, as Faversham ended the match with midfielder Sam Bewick in defence and frontman Dean Grant in midfield.

Marshall Wratten, who started as a makeshift left-back at Three Bridges, came off injured in the first half and is due to be assessed by parent club Dover while right-back Donvieve Jones is unlikely to be fit before Christmas.

Spencer has an ongoing hamstring problem while Clark Woodcock and Charlie Dickens are also injury doubts, with goalkeeper Luke Watkins and club captain Harry Harding both long-term absentees with respective knee problems.

Collins said: “Let’s just get the Christmas period done and assess where we are at. There are no midweek games before then which is a good thing.

“We have got a good size squad but it’s a case of getting them all fit.

“Players have been injured or playing out of position, and then we have brought players in but they don’t really know what we want from them - except the instructions I’m able to give them before the game.

“I would like a few more wins to push us slightly up the table but let’s assess where we are at after Christmas.”

On the latest on how long he expects to be without Watkins for, Collins said: “We are still waiting for the results from his scan but it’s probably long term.

"Him and Harry are the two long-term ones at the minute.”

The Lilywhites have also been hit by the departure of defender Joe Denny who plays for popular Sunday League side South East Dons.

Collins said: “I have nothing but good things to say about Joe, he has been great for us.

“We are disappointed to lose him but that’s football.”

Town were meant to visit Thatcham in the Velocity Trophy on Tuesday but that match was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.