Newly-appointed Hythe skipper Charlie Webster is facing a long-term injury lay-off.

The 23-year-old former Gillingham youngster went down heavily during last Tuesday’s Velocity Trophy defeat at Ashford and damaged ankle ligaments.

The Isthmian South East club are still waiting to learn the full extent of the problem but boss Steve Watt admits the outlook does not look promising for the midfielder.

Watt, who appointed Webster as captain shortly after succeeding Sam Denly as manager last month, said: “It’s still early days but it looks like Charlie is going to be out for a few months.

“He jumped for a header in the Ashford game and fell on his ankle. The problem is with his ligaments.

“There’s still a lot of swelling so he can’t be fully assessed, but we sent him off to Bromley to see their physio and the good thing is that they don’t think he’ll need an operation. He’s waiting to have a scan after which we’ll have a better idea how bad it is.”

Watt felt Webster was sorely missed in Saturday’s 2-1 home FA Trophy defeat to Hastings. Alex Flisher gave Town an early lead before Ben Pope struck twice in the final half-hour.

He added: “Charlie was a big miss on Saturday. When you play a possession-based team like Hastings you need someone with his energy, aggression and intensity in midfield.

“I thought for the first 20 to 25 minutes we were very good. We caused them a lot of problems and were unlucky not to get another goal but as the game wore on Hastings got a foothold.

“They had the bulk of possession, but we were comfortable with that. They did not really hurt us but a couple of mistakes gifted them two goals.

“If I’m honest I think they were the better team but these two games, against Hastings and the one before against Ashford, have given me a chance to gauge where we are and given that it’s a newly-built squad I’m quite happy.”

Watt says he knows the areas in

which Town need to improve and was looking forward to finally being able to train with the players on a full-size pitch.

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The club have negotiated use of Wrotham School on Mondays, having previously been restricted to using just a third-of-a-pitch at Kings Hill on Thursdays. Near-neighbours Ashford train the same night using the rest of the pitch.

Watt admitted: “We’ve not yet had a shape session on a full-sized pitch. The situation at Kings Hill, with one of our main rivals using the other two-thirds of the pitch, was one I inherited.

“It was not ideal but you have to make the best of a bad situation. At least now we can factor in 11 versus 11 on Mondays and just refresh what we do on a Thursday.”

Hythe are at Sittingbourne on Saturday which means a swift reunion for Watt’s assistant Nathan Elder, who left a similar role with the Brickies to team up with his former Maidstone team-mate at Reachfields.

Watt will take check on striker Stephen Okoh who required stitches to a cut on his heel during the Ashford game.

The Cannons are back in Velocity Trophy action on Tuesday when they host Ramsgate.

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