GRAVESEND, who entertain a full-strength Brighton squad in a friendly at Stonebridge Road at 7.45pm, are reeling from the blow of losing key defender Francis Duku until Christmas.

The powerful and influential centre-back broke an ankle in the first-half of Saturday's friendly at Weymouth and had a pin inserted during an operation on Tuesday.

Although manager Andy Ford put a brave face on the loss of the club's Players' Player and Supporters' Player of the Year, his absence comes as a colossal setback as the Fleet prepare for their return to the Conference against Yeovil on August 17.

“It looks as though he’ll be out until Christmas which is a blow," said Ford. “But we have to get on with it and at this moment I would think I'll be looking for his replacement within the squad rather than outside.

“We have time on our side to sort things out on the field and forge a new defensive partnership which will involve Aaron Barnett, Nick Burton, Lew Watts and Jamie Coyle.”

But with Watts suspended for the opening two games against Yeovil and Dagenham & Redbridge, the manager’s defensive options have been further restricted.

Ford, who has not finished team strengthening, assessed three triallists over the weekend in goalkeeper Paul Wilkinson, who played in last season's FA Trophy final for Stevenage, former Exeter striker Graeme Tomlinson and ex-Bury striker Marc Whiteman. “I'm still looking at players and we'll see what develops,” he said.

Danny Lye (knee ligaments) and Jimmy Strouts (thigh) have picked up early injuries.

Steve McKimm was on target in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Weymouth which followed a 4-1 win at Basingstoke where Tomlinson was on target. Che Stadhart (2) and Darren Smith completed the scoring. Fleet continue their pre-season preparation on Saturday at Bromley and next Tuesday visit Billericay.