Manager Steve Lovell has confirmed Herne Bay midfielder Kane Haysman’s injury is not as bad as first feared.

Haysman was rushed to hospital after he sustained an injury in last weekend’s 4-1 Isthmian South East defeat at in-form AFC Croydon Athletic when he struck a defender with his follow through as he attempted to shoot.

But Lovell expects to be without the 29-year-old, who has seven goals this term, for weeks rather than months.

“He’s all right,” he said. “Nothing is broken, I think it just hit an artery in his foot.

“He was really bleeding from where he just kicked the fella’s studs. Kane will be out for a couple of weeks but, hopefully, he will be back after that.

“That’s good because he’s definitely a player that we miss.”

Mid-table Bay’s squad have been depleted in recent weeks. Captain Liam Friend only returned for Tuesday’s 1-1 home draw with Hythe while young defender Frankie Smith and experienced midfielder Mo Kamara also have been absent.

Lovell said: “If people are out for two or three weeks, we cannot just rely on our youngsters.

“We’re looking around to see what we can bring in but it’s got to be right for us.

“We have got some tough games coming up - we have got Ramsgate twice and Broadbridge Heath away this month - but that will be a good experience for the players and the club. We’re on a learning curve and we want to build foundations for the future.

“If we can do that this year, I’m sure that will put us in a good position.”

Midfielder Ethan Smith gave Bay a half-time lead at Winch’s Field in midweek, only for the home team to be pegged back.

“We played really well in the first half,” reflected Lovell. “We dominated after the first 10 minutes. They started well but we picked up after that and, to be honest, we should have gone in 3-0 up at half-time.

“We’re just not putting enough chances away when we’re on top.

“The young players are responding to what we’re asking them to do, but we’re just not finishing teams off. That’s been the story of the last three or four weeks.

“They scored late on - but the game probably should have been dead and buried before then - although a draw was probably the fair result after the second half.”

But Lovell is confident forward Kane Rowland and last term’s 27-goal top scorer Mike Salako will find their scoring boots more consistently once again soon.

He said: “They don’t mean to miss the chances.

“They’re just having too much time and thinking about it a bit too much whereas they weren’t really thinking about it last year. But it will change.

“We will start to get a few more goals and, hopefully, that will lead to a few more positive results.”

Bay found themselves behind early on at AFC Croydon Athletic and, while Rowland got them level, the hosts added three more second-half goals.

The only consolation for Lovell was the club’s electronic scoreboard - which he remembered seeing as a previous match at The Mayfield Stadium ended in a 6-1 defeat - was no longer in situ.

He said: “I think they must have sold it!

“They have taken it down - and it’s not there. It was a completely different environment.

“It’s not the best place to play your football. But it’s a good experience for our youngsters because we’re spoilt at our place.

“It’s a great place to come. It’s a proper football ground and a proper pitch, so that’s half the battle. At the same time, it’s important the players know how to adapt.”

Next up for Bay is a league journey to Eastbourne Town this Saturday before they are at home to title favourites Ramsgate on Tuesday.

On the weekend away game in Sussex, Lovell said: “We will jump on the coach and it will be an experience where we will all be in it together.

“I’ve been there many years ago. It won’t be the best pitch in the world, but that’s something we have got to get used to.

“Even the top sides, they will be looking to go to their place and nick a 1-0 win.

“Hopefully, we’ll get something. As long as we keep producing opportunities, we will not be too far away.

“Once we start scoring them, we will be fine.”